20 Sep 2011

Ac Act Restrictions Kill Graft Case

Last Monday all graft charges were dropped against former Minister of Works and Transport, Dorothea Ngozu, arrested in 2009 for illegally subletting her government residence to over 20 people between 2005 and 2009.

According to the magistrate in charge of the case, there was illegal involvement by the Namibian Police in the investigation. The argument was founded in the fact that the accusations against Ngozu fall within the scope of the Anti-Corruption Act, which specificies that only appointed investigators may conduct procedures under the Act.

However, Ngozu was arrested and investigated by the local Police in Swakopmund, which was not authorized to execute searches in pursuit of graft accusations. As a consequence, the entire investigation against her was rendered illegal.

For the full story on The Namibian, please click here.