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Namibia: Police Swoop On Avid 5
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New Era (Windhoek)
17 April 2008
Posted to the web 17 April 2008
John Ekongo and Kuvee Kangueehi
Windhoek
The Avid/Social Security saga resurfaced last night with the police pouncing on key personalities who were linked to the controversial investment firm.
Around 17h27 yesterday evening, the police swooped on former Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Paulus Kapia and Inez /Gâses, while former Acting Secretary of the National Youth Council, Ralph Blaauw and his wife Sharon were arrested at 18h00.
They also netted Labour Ministry official and lawyer, Otniel Podewiltz. The sixth suspect, Brigadier Mathews Shigwedha, was still at large and the Namibian Police by late yesterday afternoon had not established his whereabouts.
The arrests were carried out under the command of Commanding Officer of the Commercial Crime Investigating Unit, Chief Inspector Willie Erwin Bampton.
Although warrants for the arrests of the suspects were sent out yesterday morning, the arrests were only effected after hours, which made it difficult for the five suspects to raise the N$10000 bail that was set by the prosecuting team.
One of the lawyers representing the suspects told New Era that bail was originally set at N$20000 but after consultations with the prosecution team, it was reduced to N$10000 for each person. Four of the suspects were released on bail.
At the time of going to press, Podewiltz was still struggling to raise his bail money.
This is the first time that criminal charges have been laid against the six people that were linked to the Avid Investment Company.
In 2005 the little known asset management company, Avid, acquired N$30 million from the Social Security Commission (SSC) and invested the money in an offshore company. The money could later not be accounted for.
The disappearance of the money led to a High Court inquiry. Subsequent to the inquiry, Lazarus Kandara who was believed to be the kingpin in the Avid saga committed suicide while under police escort in front of the Windhoek Police Station.
A lawyer representing one of the suspects said although the suspects had not been formally charged, most of the charges are of a statutory nature because the six were directors of the investment company.
The lawyer was also not happy that the arrests were made so late in the afternoon and said they suspect the motive was to ensure that the suspects spent the night in police cells.
He said there was no need to arrest the five people because they all live in Windhoek and the court could have subpoenaed them.
Kapia is represented by Sisa Namandje, while Lucius Murorwa represents Podewiltz. /Gâses is represented by Doris Hans.
When the New Era news team arrived at the Windhoek Police Station in Independence Avenue last night, it missed Kapia by a whisker, as he jumped into a taxi moments after he had posted bail.
The Blaauw couple hid their faces from the camera after paying bail and sped off in a red Volkswagen Velocity Golf hatchback with a Windhoek registration number 39259.
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The five are expected to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court this morning.
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