ACC investigates contact between Nandago and fugitive Malima

By: Envaalde Matheus

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed that Leo Nandago, an accused in the Namcor corruption case, may have had prior contact with suspect Simaneka Malima, who remains at large.

Nandago is alleged to have benefited from fuel supplies worth approximately N$228 million through Erongo Petroleum CC.
ACC Chief Investigator Oberty Inambao testified to this during the ongoing bail hearing at the Windhoek Magistrate Court on Tuesday, part of the broader N$480 million Namcor corruption case.

Inambao raised concerns that if Nandago is released on bail, he may interfere with evidence, especially since he was allegedly in contact with Malima before his arrest.

“The nature of the charges that we are being investigating is serious in a sense that involves money laundering as well and by nature money laundering is complicated in a sense that there are various transactions that are happening and it needs to be followed.”
“So we believe that if he is released, he will interfere with investigations. In fact, as we speak, we did receive information regarding the suspect who is currently not yet arrested, before he was arrested and it’s a leg that we are still actually trying to follow up as well,” he said.

Inambao testified that Nandago presented himself at the ACC only because he had been summoned for questioning and did not expect to be arrested, believing he was only assisting the investigation.

“Some of the information we received is as recent as just before he was arrested. The investigations among others, you know, the complicated financial transactions, as far as the charges of money laundering, you would remember, that we have demonstrated that this money moved from one account to another and another and so forth and so on.”

“Your Worship, there were a number of assets that were procured, which the investigation is also still identifying, and therefore, the investigations, it’s still ongoing, and hence the fear that should any of the accused be released, they will interfere to a great extent,” he said.