Sacky Shanghala, former Minister of Justice in Namibia, and James Hatuikulipi, former managing director of Investec Asset Management, were arrested this morning at their Namibian ranch, RÚV reports. Both of them had previously resigned from their positions following the Samherji scandal.
In a conversation with the Namibian, Paulus Noa, Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, confirmed the arrest in a conversation this morning. According to Noa, more information will be made available later today.
As RÚV notes, James Hatuikulipi has amassed considerable wealth through private government contracts. Hatuikulipi is currently being investigated for money laundering, fraud, and corruption involving 150 million Namibian Dollars (ca. $10 million).
Minister of Fisheries, Bernhardt Esau, also resigned following the scandal and was arrested last Sunday. He was released soon afterwards on a technicality, owing to an error in the arrest warrant. According to Paulus Noa, a new arrest warrant will be issued soon.
Esau’s son-in-law, Tamson “Fitty” Hatuikulipi, cousin of James Hatuikulipi, and his colleague Ricardo Gustavo are also implicated in the case, along with Pius “Taxa” Mwatelulo, another relative of James Hatuikulipi.
A Brief Recap
Earlier this month, the investigative journalism programme Kveikur (which was produced in collaboration with Stundin and Al Jazeera Investigates) reported that companies owned by the Icelandic fishing company Samherji are alleged to have paid high-ranking officials in Namibia – and individuals connected to them – more than ISK one billion since 2012 to ensure access to horse-mackerel fishing quotas in the country. Last Saturday, an anti-corruption protest was organised on Austurvöllur square.
