Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa faced a setback as the Windhoek High Court denied her application for a restraint order against two implicated entities in the Fishrot corruption scandal.

The Court determined that Imalwa failed to demonstrate that the foreign directors of these entities are likely to be charged, saying the pursuit of restraint orders against them is unnecessary.

The court said that Interpol has yet to establish the whereabouts of the foreign directors of Ejsa Investments, namely Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason, and Adalsteinn Helgason, who are pending extradition.

The court also noted a five-year delay by the Prosecutor General in initiating extradition proceedings, which has cast doubt on the likelihood of these directors being charged.

The state alleges that Ejsa Investments corruptly benefitted by N$547,600.

Despite this ruling, the Prosecutor General has successfully secured restraint orders against several other entities and individuals implicated in the Fishrot scandal.

In November 2020, High Court Judge Orben Sibeya issued a property restraint order targeting assets belonging to James Hatuikulipi, former Attorney General and Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, former Fisheries Minister Bernhard Esau, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Ricardo Gustavo, Pius Mwatelulo, and ten corporate entities or trusts under their control.

The restrained assets encompass bank and investment accounts, interests in companies and close corporations, real estate properties, nearly 60 vehicles, firearms, jewellery, and several luxury watches.

This order is set to remain in effect until the conclusion of the pending criminal trial, which is expected to commence on August 4 in the Windhoek High Court.

The Fishrot scandal surfaced in 2019 and involved allegations of high-level corruption and bribery linked to the fishing industry.

The accusations are that officials and business figures exploited fishing quotas for personal gain.