Ex-NWR boss and partner guilty of providing false information

WINDHOEK, 25 OCT  – Former Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) Managing Director Tobie Aupindi and his Italian business partner Antonio di Savino were on Thursday found guilty of fraud dealt with under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2003.
The two businessmen were each found guilty on a main charge of fraud, namely of corruptly providing false information to an ACC authorised officer William Lloyd, by stating that Aupindi had paid N$50 000 in cash to local company LIC Pools for a swimming pool installed at his house in Hochland Park.
The duo was found guilty as charged in a judgement handed down by Windhoek Magistrate Helvi Kauna Shilemba on Thursday.
In her ruling, Magistrate Shilemba said the prosecution team, led by Senior Public Prosecutor Arrie Husselmann, proved beyond reasonable doubt that Aupindi did not pay for the swimming pool himself, and that Di Savino in fact paid for the pool as a kickback in exchange for tile tenders awarded to him for refurbishment work done at NWR resorts across the country.
On 24 February 2012, Aupindi and Di Savino also suffered a heavy blow when the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court dismissed their application for discharge.
They entered not guilty pleas to the charge against them at the start of their protracted trial on 06 February 2012.
The former NWR chief left the parastatal at the end of December 2010, four months before his contract was due to expire.
Senior defence counsel Advocate Richard Metcalfe and Louis du Pisani are representing the two businessmen.
The presentation of the pre-sentencing evidence in the matter is set for Thursday afternoon.
(NAMPA)