The Anti-Corruption Commission's Chief Investigator, Andreas Kanyangela, says Fishrot suspect Tamson Hatuikulipi is being evasive with his side of the story on what transpired in the alleged fraud scandal.

Kanyangela leads the probe into the Fishrot scandal, of which Hatuikulipi is among 11 accused, including companies or trusts they own or co-own.

In his testimony as a state witness in Hatuikulipi's bail hearing in the Windhoek High Court, Kanyangela refuted the suspect's claim that he played no role in the alleged syndicate and his denial of large sums of illicit funds received, as charges indicate. 

According to Kanyangela, Hatuikulipi acted with a common purpose to divert approximately N$317 million from the fishing parastatal, Fishcor, to law firms such as De Klerk, Horn, and Coetzee, owned by fugitive lawyer Maren de Klerk, and companies they owned or co-owned. 

Hatuikulipi, he added, benefited roughly N$ 75 million from the scheme.

Kanyangela also informed acting Judge Munsu that all payments to Hatuikulipi and his co-accused were disguised as consultation fees through their companies, which all did not meet the criteria to qualify for fishing rights and any proceeds thereof.

Hatuikulipi, according to the anti-graft watchdog investigator, also owes approximately N$28.5 million in tax arrears.

Kanyangela also disputed Hatuikulipi's stance that email records reflecting his involvement in the syndicate are illegitimate or have been tampered with.

Kanyangela says they have over 300 witnesses and the evidence at their disposal is sufficient for a trial, which he also added, will not be as lengthy as Hatuikulipi and his co-accused also claim. 

The bail hearing continues Wednesday at 10h00.

The state is represented by prosecutor Esekiel Ipinge and deputy prosecutor-general Cliff Lutibezi, while lawyer's Richard Metcalfe and Florian Beukes stood for Hatuikulipi.