Anti-Corruption Commission makes two arrests

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has made a significant breakthrough against corruption in the South by arresting Councilor Jan Scholtz, a Constituency Councilor of the !Nami#nus Constituency and Chairperson of the Karas Regional Council, and Mr Barnatus Waterboer, a Control Officer at the Karas Regional Council. Their arrests follow allegations that Mr Scholtz and Mr Waterboer awarded tenders for paving at the Karas Regional Governors Office and the !Nami#nus Constituency Office to a friend’s company, Gerose Construction CC during 2011.

It is further alleged that Mr Scholtz also corruptly motivated a financial assistance request of Tommy’s Meat Products at a Karas Council meeting without disclosing that his stepson is the owner of the business. Inspector Nelius Becker, Chief of the Directorate of Investigation and Prosecution at the ACC stated that they have been investigating this case for longer than 1 year and 3 months since 20 September 2012, therefore they have a tight case. He also said, on completion of the investigation, the Commission submitted all the evidence to the Prosecutor General and they have strong cases against the two accused suspects to go forward with the legal case. He told the Economist that it is out of their hands how the legal system handles the case, stating that they (ACC) “have done their part in collecting the discriminating evidence and it is now up to the law to do its part.”  Mr Scholtz and Mr Waterboer have been charged with corruptly using office or position for gratification and Mr Scholts on a further charge in respect of the allegation regarding Tommy’s Meat Products, alternatively contraventions of section 16 (1) of the Regional Councils Act 22 of 1992. The two accused appeared in the Keetmanshoop Magistrates Court in December and the case was postponed until 20 January 2014 to set a trial date. Bail was set at N$ 20,000-00 each.