A three-judge Supreme Court bench has dashed all hopes of bail for six 'Fishrot' accused when it dismissed their appeal against the High Court's refusal to grant bail.

The appellants challenged a discrepancy between the transcribed version and the signed version of April 11, 2022, judgment.

However, the Supreme Court ordered in its judgment that paragraph 81 of the signed judgment be removed so as not to conflict with the transcribed one.

In a major development in the 'Fishrot' fishing quota fraud and corruption case, the Supreme Court has dismissed the bail appeals of six of the men charged in the case. The decision was announced earlier today.

Former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, his business partner James Hatuikulipi, former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer Mike Nghipunya, Pius Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya, and Phillipus Mwapopi lodged their appeals after their bail applications were dismissed in the High Court in April last year.

Nigel van Wyk, a co-accused in the Fishrot scandal, denied any wrongdoing or unlawfully gaining any proceeds from companies implicated in the ongoing corruption case when he testified during his bail hearing application today.

His arrest, he says, was circumstantial as he was found with laptops and desktop screens, which he collected from Sackey Shanghala's house.

At the time, Shanghala was already in detention.

The Fishrot scandal, in which a number of prominent personalities are implicated, has continued to make headlines since it was exposed in 2019.

Those accused in the matter are said to have misappropriated close to half a billion dollars.

The men implicated are two former Cabinet ministers, a former board chairperson, and directors.

All of the suspects are accused of running schemes to get control of government fishing quotas, such as those held by the state fishing company, Fishcor, worth millions of dollars.

The bail application of Bernhardt Esau and Nigel van Wyk in the multimillion-dollar fishrot corruption scandal has been postponed until tomorrow.

Esau's lawyer, Florian Beukes, informed the court that his client was constrained by ill health.

The postponement of Esau's bail hearing and the potential recusal of his legal representation are just the latest twists in the case, and Namibians and the rest of the world are waiting for the outcome with bated breath, given the potential ramifications for the fishing industry and the overall economy.

South African Advocate Vas Soni, who is representing three of the six accused implicated in the Fishrot corruption scandal case says his clients will submit a not-guilty plea once the trial commences.

Soni and advocate Thabang Phatela argued before a three-judge bench at the Supreme Court as the men dubbed the Fishrot kingpins' fight for freedom continues in their appeal for bail.

Soni among others, submitted that the assets of his clients have been restrained by the state and in fear that they might abscond should they be released on bail.

Tamson 'Fitty' Hatuikulipi, one of the key figures in the "Fishrot" fishing quotas fraud and corruption case, was denied bail by a High Court Judge.

Acting Judge David Munsu says while the court accepts the new facts brought to court by Hatuikulipi imploring the court to release him, they do not change the grounds on which he had previously been denied bail.

This was the businessman's third attempt to be granted bail.

Former Fisheries Minister and Fishrot accused, Bernard Esau, says he is a victim of his co-accused and had nothing to do with their offenses.

Esau is pleading with the court to release him on bail based on new facts.

Fishrot accused and former Fisheries Minister Bernhardt Esau and Nigel van Wyk will again attempt to seek their freedom in the High Court on Wednesday.

On Monday, one of their co-accused, Tamson Hatuikulipi, was informed that he will still spend Christmas with the rest of the crew in the Windhoek Correctional Facility, as the verdict for his bail application will only be made on the 27th of December.

Ricardo Gustavo has complied with the Supreme Court order and handed himself over to the Windhoek Correctional Facility just minutes before the given deadline of 17:00.

Deputy Commissioner General of the Namibian Correctional Services, Sam Shalulange confirmed that Gustavo was accompanied by his close family members.

Gustavo who was granted bail in December last year December has been ordered by the Supreme Court to report to the Windhoek prison by 17:00 today.