The eight Chinese nationals who were arrested at the Cheetah Cement factory two weeks ago after failing to produce valid work permits to immigration and police officials, were on Friday last week escorted out of the country.
Public prosecutor at the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court, Joas Neemwatya on Tuesday told Nampa upon inquiry that the eight are Cui Mailing, Xiaoyan Quan, Yaqian Wu, Jianghai Zheng, Xauntao Zhang, Bin Li, Yin Li and Jianpeng Mi.
“They all pleaded guilty to the charges of overstaying, acting in conflicts with the purpose of a visitors’ permit and remaining in Namibia after the expiration of an employment permit,” said Neemwatya.
According to the prosecutor, the six male and two female Chinese nationals aged between 23 and 42 years did not occupy senior positions or were employed for any special skill at the Cheetah Cement, trading as Whale Rock LTD PTY, as per their individual payslips they produced in court.
Otjiwarongo Magistrate, Ivette Fredericks last Thursday had ruled in favour of the State which sought the immediate termination of the Chinese nationals’ employment contracts with the cement factory; issue fines not exceeding N.dollars 12 000 or sentence them to 12 months imprisonment and also deport them to China.
Fredericks however fined them N.dollars 6 000 each and ordered that they be escorted out of Namibia immediately.
“On 15 April this year they were all escorted out of the country by members of the police and immigration officials,” said Neemwatya.
Otjiwarongo-based private lawyer, Tjitja Harases had represented them in court.
Their presence was exposed by members of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) who marched to the offices of the Cheetah Cement two weeks ago calling for their removal where they have been employed since May 2021 without work permits.
NEFF Commander-In-Chief, Epafras Mukwiilongo and his deputy, Kalimbo Iipumbu headed the march and were accompanied by Gregory Cloete, Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma.
Cheetah Cement has since opened a case of trespassing against the NEFF members for allegedly entering the cement premises without an appointment with the company.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
