Veteran lawyer Dirk Conradie and a co-accused, Sara Damases, have failed with an attempt to be pronounced not guilty on charges under the Anti-Corruption Act.
Judge Thomas Masuku dismissed an application by Conradie and Damases to be discharged after the conclusion of the state’s case in their trial, in a ruling delivered in the Windhoek High Court on Wednesday.
Conradie (65) and Damases (60) are jointly charged with one count of corruptly soliciting gratification as a reward for using influence in procuring a contract, and a charge of attempting or conspiring to contravene sections of the Anti-Corruption Act.
Conradie alone is also charged with corruptly using his former position as chairperson of telecommunications company MTC’s board of directors to obtain gratification for himself or another person.
They denied guilt on all the charges during plea proceedings before Masuku in March 2016.
The state is alleging that in June 2012 Conradie offered to use his influence as MTC board chairperson to have an advertising contract worth about N$60 million awarded to the advertising company, DV8 Saatchi & Saatchi. This is if the company’s directors agreed to take Damases on board as a black economic empowerment partner.
Masuku heard oral arguments on the discharge application in March this year.
Following his ruling dismissing the application for their acquittal, Masuku postponed the matter to 5 December, when further trial dates should be decided.
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