Africa-Press – Namibia. HIGH Court judge Moses Chinhengo has said that he would deliver a ruling on Friday, 6 December 2024, on the way forward with the Fishrot trial and when parties would continue with plea-taking proceedings in the trial.
Milton Engelbrecht, who represents Mike Nghipunya, Otneel Shuudifonya, and Phillipus Mwapopi, said that he would be available from 17 February 2025 with regard to the main trial but added that his clients would be ready for plea-taking at any given time and would be able to proceed in his absence.
Former Minister of Fisheries Bernard Esau, who remains unrepresented, said that he would wish to continue with plea-taking as soon as possible, as he has waited five years without legal progress in the matter. The prosecutor general is currently challenging a High Court decision, which granted Esau over N$3 million of his restrained funds, in the Supreme Court, leaving the former fisheries minister in limbo with regard to legal representation.
On the other hand, Mbanga Siyomunji, the lawyer representing Nigel van Wyk in the Fishrot trial, has indicated that he would only be available in May 2025 for the continuation of the trial. Former Minister of Justice Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo, and Ricardo Gustavo have indicated that they would be available on 19 May for plea-taking, hinging on the fact that van Wyk’s lawyer would only be available then.
State Advocate Ed Marondedze indicated that an appropriate time to proceed with the matter would be 15 January 2025. “My lord, the state has witnesses who have been waiting to testify in this matter. We have been waiting to testify. Life belongs to God. Anything can happen to witnesses or prosecutors. We can’t do anything if something happens to witnesses who have to testify. It is a prejudice to the state to have a delay, and to the public at large,” Marondedze said.
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