Windhoek: The lawyer representing brothers Malakia and Peter Elindi in the alleged Namcor corruption scandal involving over N.dollars 400 million has requested that the High Court grant his clients N.dollars 10 000 bail each.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Sisa Namandje, during a bail appeal hearing on Thursday before High Court Judges Philanda Christiaan and Eileen Rakow, argued that Magistrate Linus Samunzala misdirected himself when he refused to grant bail to his clients last year. The brothers are charged alongside former Namcor Managing Director Immanuel Mulunga, Lydia Elindi, Olivia Dunaiski, Cedric Willemse, Leo Nandago, Austin Elindi, Jennifer Hamukwaya, and Panduleni Hamukwaya.

Last week, another suspect, former Bank Windhoek employee Heidi Boois, was arrested in connection with the alleged crime. Two additional suspects, Martha Antindi and Johanna Mundjego, were arrested last weekend. The group, together with their enterprises, allegedly defrauded Namcor of millions of dollars.

Namandje argued that the magistrate, Samunzala, during the bail application, did not deal with the contradictions made by key witnesses, including the lead Anti-Corruption Commission investigator. He also argued that although the magistrate found that the State had established a prima facie case, he did not properly assess the evidence, saying that his clients, if given bail, are ready to report themselves to the police three days a week and do not pose a flight risk.

Leo Nandago's lawyer, Ngakumbirue Katjivena, argued that the magistrate applied a 'blanket approach' when dealing with bail applications instead of assessing each accused person based on their own circumstances. According to him, the magistrate was wrong to have linked his client to fugitive Victor Malima, who is also wanted in connection with the case. It was further his argument that Nandago had no signatory rights to the bank accounts through which the alleged funds moved.

The matter continues.