SONJA SMITH and LUQMAN CLOETEANOTHER senior prison official has been suspended at Windhoek Correctional Facility for allegedly showing favouritism to a Fishrot bribery accused, while a warden at Keetmanshoop is in hot water amid accusations that he gave his cellphone to a Namibian-born fugitive who entered the country illegally with a canoe.
This brings the number of superintendents in correctional services suspended since April this year to three.
Two of them dealt directly with Fishrot suspects. Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) commissioner general Raphael Hamunyela confirmed the new suspensions of Windhoek Correctional Facility superintendent Michael Nghiwanwa and Keetmanshoop senior chief correctional officer Sacky Uushona to .
According to Hamunyela, Nghiwanwa was suspended two weeks ago for taking former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) chief executive officer Mike Nghipunya to another section of the prison.
The suspension of Uushona at Keetmanshoop comes after he allegedly assisted Namibian-born David Immanuel two weeks ago with his mobile phone to connect to the outside world. Immanuel is allegedly a South African fugitive.
reported in April this year that the Windhoek facility’s head of security, Albinus Mosimane, was suspended without pay over allegations of giving special treatment to former Investec Asset Management Namibia (renamed Ninety One) managing director James Hatuikulipi, another Fishrot accused.
Several sources told this month that “there is a lot of corruption that is happening at correctional services”.
“Whoever guards the (Fishrot) unit is under scrutiny,” a source said.
“To bring them food, we must inform the officer-in-charge, taking them to a shop, we must inform the officer-in-charge. Every little step is controlled, especially if you are not in their good books,” a source said.
The suspensions are allegedly cooked up.
“These suspensions are made up to give the public an impression that they are doing something, while in actual fact, they are sacrificing officials,” the person said.
“Yes, I can confirm that (Nghiwanwa) the superintendent in charge of the unit where the Fishrot-accused are kept has been suspended for violating security protocol. He was taking the suspect from the cell to the workshop. At the workshop, that is where we do everything. From carpentry, welding, painting and so on,” Hamunyela said.
“The investigation has already started, to understand the purpose of moving the suspect there, and by ensuring we do a good job, we have to suspend him,” he said.
Nghiwanwa told last week that he does not understand his suspension, as he has not violated any security protocol.
He said he did not take Nghipunya to the workshop without consent.
“I was assigned to the unit about three weeks ago. The unit itself has other officials already whom I’ve found there. One of the officials had takenNghipunya’s chair to be fixed at the workshop, and once it was fixed, I was informed that he (Nghipunya) needed it.
“So, I took him to go get it, and that was my sin. Why would something like that warrant a suspension? Why did they not suspend the official who took the chair there for fixing in the first place?
Nghiwanwa has worked for the Windhoek Correctional Services for over 16 years.
He said there are no guidelines or a structure provided to warders supervising the Fishrot accused.
“I am troubled and don’t know what to do next. Investigations have not been completed, no charges, and no salary from now on. There are no rules for us when one goes there about what is expected,” he said.
Nghiwanwa is charged with not indicating on the Occurrence Book (OB) and taking the suspect to the workshop without informing the officer-in-charge.
He has since written a letter to the prime minister, SaaraKuugongelwa-Amadhila, requesting the payment of his salary while investigations are ongoing.
Hamunyela said the suspension of Uushona at Keetmanshoop comes after he helped Immanuel with his mobile phone.
Immanuel was arrested in June this year for illegally crossing into Namibia via the Orange River. He later tested positive for Covid-19.
He was convicted on charges of illegal entry into Namibia and failure to declare cash exceeding N$100 000 upon entering Namibia and was fined N$5 000 and N$15 000, respectively.
Sources familiar with Immanuel’s case said the court issued him a 45-hour notice to leave Namibia after paying his fine.
Previous media reports said Namibian-born Immanuel is a South African passportholder.
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