The former managing director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), Imms Mulunga, states that he and the fugitive fuel company owner Victor Malima only shared a business connection.
He did not share a personal connection with Malima — however, he was driving a car that Malima is accused of giving him as a bribe and brought the vehicle in for maintenance after Malima instructed him to do so, Mulunga stated during a bail hearing at the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday.
When public prosecutor Basson Lilungwe questioned Mulunga about whether he had a personal connection with Malima, who is the only member of the fuel-trading close corporation Eco Trading, Mulunga responded: "No, not at all. It was purely a business relationship."
Malima is also implicated in suspected fraud and corruption at Namcor, but it is said that he has departed from Namibia.
Due to objections from defense lawyers, Lilungwe was prevented from submitting a document from the car dealership Audi Centre to Mulunga. Lilungwe then informed Mulunga that the investigating officer in the case would state in court that Malima purchased a car under the name Hileni Kamati, and that the vehicle was subsequently given to Mulunga.
"It's not my car, it wasn't registered under my name, so it consequently isn't my possession," Mulunga replied.
Lilungwe went on to inform Mulunga that he had arranged for the car to be serviced at the Audi Centre and signed the necessary documents for the service.
"That's correct," Mulunga said.
Nevertheless, this does not mean it is my car. I took the vehicle for service because I had driven the car for two or three days, and Victor Malima requested me to take it to him as he was flying to Ondangwa.
Lilungwe also informed Mulunga that the investigating officer will confirm that the car was purchased for him due to the "suspicious conditions" surrounding Mulunga's acquisition of large fuel storage facilities at nine Namibian Defence Force bases from the company Enercon Namibia on behalf of Namcor.
Mulunga stated that he had no remarks regarding that statement.
Lilungwe additionally informed Mulunga that funds received from Namcor and transferred to Malima's Eco Trading were utilized to purchase the vehicle that was provided to him.
"I have nothing to say about that. I am not informed about those details," Mulunga stated.
The allegations against Mulunga involve a charge of improperly receiving benefits.
In the indictment, the state claims that Mulunga improperly received an Audi Q8 worth approximately N$3.2 million from Malima between 15 and 18 August 2022 as a reward for helping Namcor acquire nine service stations from Enercon Namibia and for arranging the supply of fuel to Enercon and the close corporation Erongo Petroleum without charge.
When questioned about the claimed Audi Q8 bribe on Wednesday, Mulunga informed magistrate Linus Samunzala that he does not possess such a vehicle and was not provided with one.
I don't have that car," he added. "I wasn't provided with that vehicle.
When acquiring service station assets from Enercon, Mulunga acknowledged that Namcor's internal policy required board approval for purchases exceeding N$25 million.
Describing it as "an oversight," Mulunga mentioned that Namcor's budget of N$25 million for asset purchases and N$40 million for business growth was utilized without the approval of the company's finance and audit committee to acquire the service station assets. He further stated that this was not a criminal act and that he faced disciplinary action from the board.
This was among the factors that led to him losing his position as managing director, he mentioned.
Mulunga, who was taken into custody on July 8, has informed the court that he is prepared to pay N$10,000 as bail to secure his release.
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