LIEUTENANT General Martin Shalli, who was suspended a year ago by President Hifikepunye Pohamba should now be charged "in the interest of justice" an opposition party demanded on Monday.

"A year has passed since the most senior officer of the country's Defence Force, Lieutenant General Shalli was summarily suspended and at the time, the Attorney General said in a statement that 'serious allegations of irregularities' were being investigated against him," said Tsudao Gurirab, Secretary General of the Congress of Democrats (CoD).

"Surely, given the nature of media speculation about the alleged misdemeanour of General Shalli in 2009, it is both in the interest of justice - and to assure both the officers' corps and the rank and file in our Defence Force that they will not be victims of arbitrary action or overt political victimisation - that this case be resolved speedily," Gurirab said in a statement.

"Our justice system should speed up their case and act in the same manner where similar allegations have been made; and that he does not suffer the same fate of Assistant Commissioner of Prisons Melvin Martin. As the dictum goes justice delayed is justice denied," Gurirab added.

Martin was suspended in August 2005 at full pay for alleged fraud, but the courts threw out the case for lack of evidence. Last week Martin told The Namibian that five years were a long time and that he wanted his job back if the Police could not find sufficient proof for the alleged fraud.

President Pohamba suspended Shalli on July 22 last year because of "serious allegations of irregularities which must be thoroughly investigated", Presidential Affairs Minster Albert Kawana said in a statement then. Kawana added the suspension would facilitate an unhindered investigation.

The news sent shock waves through the rank and file of the NDF, especially the army.

Well-placed sources told The Namibian in 2009 that Shalli was apparently accused of allegedly having 'millions of dollars' transferred to him, through a third party, by a Chinese company from whom the NDF bought equipment.

Major General Peter Nambundunga, has been appointed as acting Chief of the NDF until the case is finalised.