Africa-Press – Namibia. A charge in which he is accused of failing to pay N$20.7 million in tax is “malicious”, former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) manager Cedric Willemse says.
“I’m confused why this charge is even here,” Willemse said in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday, in response to a question about a charge in which it is alleged that he failed to pay N$20.7 million in tax on an income of N$61.2 million during the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022.
Willemse (52), who is applying to be granted bail after he was arrested two months ago on 10 charges in connection with alleged fraud and corruption at Namcor, told magistrate Olga Muharukua he had been involved in exchanges with the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) about his tax affairs and in October last year filed an objection to a tax assessment by Namra.
He said he received a reply from Namra, saying his objection was valid, and early this year was informed that in Namra’s records it is indicated his objection was still pending,
However, when he received the charges he is facing after his arrest on 8 July, he was surprised to see that one of the charges is a count of failure to pay tax, Willemse said.
“This is a malicious charge,” he remarked.
“I’ve been dealing with Namra regarding this. […] How does this charge find its way in here? Because, as far as I’m concerned, we were still dealing with this matter.”
Willemse said he has explained to Namra that his ex-wife used to handle his tax matters, and his tax affairs were up to date until 2017.
However, he and his former wife then went through a divorce, he became seriously ill with Covid-19, “and everything went haywire”, Willemse said.
PAYMENTS EXPLAINED
Defence lawyer Boris Isaacks, who is representing Willemse, also asked him to explain several payments that he received from the close corporation Quality Meat Supplies of the fugitive Victor Malima, who is also wanted in connection with the Namcor fraud and corruption case.
Quality Meat Supplies made payments of N$150 000, N$960 000 and N$350 000 to Willemse in July 2022, and also paid him N$500 000 in August 2022 and N$50 000 in November 2022.
In one of the charges against one of the other accused in the case, the state is alleging that an amount of N$350 000 was paid by the close corporation Erongo Petroleum, which had a business relationship with Namcor, to Quality Meat Supplies in July 2022, before Quality Meat Supplies paid the same amount to Willemse.
The state is also alleging that Willemse corruptly accepted payments of N$3.01 million, N$4.05 million and N$1.04 million from the fuel company Enercon Namibia and Erongo Petroleum – allegations that Willemse denied yesterday.
All of the payments that he received from Quality Meat Supplies were for meat he had sold to it, Willemse said.
He recounted that he first met Malima in 2021, and in April 2022 they again met each other and Malima told him he had a meat business and was looking for meat to buy.
Willemse said he has been farming since 2011, and he and Malima agreed he would supply meat carcasses to Malima’s business.
About the first payment of N$150 000 that he received from Quality Meat Supplies, Willemse said: “That was a legitimate transaction. That was where the [business] relationship started.”
The payment of N$960 000 that he received from Quality Meat Supplies was for multiple invoices for the supply of carcasses to Malima’s close corporation, Willemse also said.
He told the magistrate he would plead not guilty to all of the charges he is facing when his trial starts.
Willemse also said that, with the help of friends and relatives, he would be able to raise N$10 000 to N$20 000 to pay as a bail deposit if he is granted bail.
“My life is falling apart after my arrest. My finances are in shambles,” Willemse said, adding that by the time his trial eventually starts “I might have lost everything”.
He continued: “What if I’m found not guilty? […] So, I’m sitting with a lot of hardships due to this incarceration.”
The bail hearing is continuing.
Willemse is being represented by Isaacks, assisted by Braam Cupido and Johanna Iipinge.
Public prosecutor Basson Lilungwe is representing the state.
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