SSC’s Avid saga compensation bid dismissed

WINDHOEK, 29 JUN  – An attempt by Social Security Commission (SSC) management seeking compensation from five people found guilty in connection with the disappearance of the parastatal’s N.dollars 30 million in 2005, has failed.
The five convicts are former Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Paulus Kapia; Avid Investment Administrative Secretary, Inez //Gases; former acting Secretary-General of the National Youth Council, Ralph Blaauw; his wife, Sharon Blaauw and Windhoek businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Namangol Asset Management Company, Nico Josea.
The attempt by SSC’s Chief Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda to have the five convicted people pay back the millions failed on Thursday following the dismissal of her urgent application for compensation.
The application was dismissed in a ruling handed down by High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg, because it was not properly brought before court and failed to meet the strict requirements of Section 300 of the Criminal Procedures Act of 1977, which deal with compensations and claims for damages in court.
In her failed application, Mungunda wanted the court to issue an order that the five convicted persons pay back a total of N.dollars 20 million in compensation to the parastatal, saying their irresponsible actions had caused the disappearance of the money (N.dollars 30 million) that was invested in the little-known Avid Investment in 2005.
Lawyers for the five convicts also raised objections against the application for compensation, because there was no evidence of documents presented before court showing that Mungunda was really authorised by SSC’s board of directors to bring the application before court.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Ed Marondedze presented the failed application before court on the instructions of SSC’s management.
Kapia, //Gases and the Blaauw couple have their bail of N.dollars 10 000 each reinstated as per requests by their defence lawyers.
Josea remains in custody at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility’s holding cells after the court refused to entertain his request for the reinstatement of bail.
Sisa Namandje appeared for Kapia and Petrie Theron for //Gases, while Gilroy Kasper represented Sharon and Ralph Blaauw. Slysken Makando appeared for Josea.
State Advocates Cliff Lutibezi and Salomon Kanyemba assisted Marondedze.

NAMPA