Mastermind in major graft trial jailed

Three people convicted of fraud over the role they played in getting Namibia's Social Security Commission to invest $2.2m with an unknown company 13 years ago avoided jail terms because they were unaware that the funds were destined to be embezzled. The Namibian reports that Justice Christie Liebenberg said in the Windhoek High Court that despite the seriousness of the fraud committed by former Swapo Party Youth League leader Paulus Kapia, ex-MP Ralph Blaauw and accountant Inez Gases, their blameworthiness was significantly reduced by the fact that they were not directly responsible for the loss the SSC suffered when its money was embezzled. They were each fined $4 400. However, Liebenberg convicted Nico Josea 'who was in cahoots with the main perpetrator, the late Lazarus Kandara, with the sole intention to embezzle the SSC investment funds'. The report notes that he sentenced him to 17 years' imprisonment.