By: Rodney Pienaar
The Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested two ministry of health officials on corruption allegations dating back to 2014 in which they paddled a tender worth N$1 371 570. 50 to Hat World Trading CC and or Haroldt //Geiseb.
The two, Lennon Patrick Bock and Ronald Deirgaart are looking at charges in which they allegedly wrongfully, unlawfully directly or indirectly and corruptly used their respective office or positions in a public body to obtain gratification for their own benefit, the commission said.
“They allegedly obtained falsified quotations purported to be from: ABR Trading Enterprises and Hexagon Trading CC and submitted it to the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health and Social Services together with the quotation from Hat World Trading CC and / or Haroldt //Geiseb whereas they allegedly knew that Hexagon Trading CC and ABR Trading Enterprises CC did not submit any quotations in respect of renovations work to be carried out at Otjiwarongo State Hospital.”
The two allegedly failed to observe or follow procurement process and did not table the renovations project before the Regional Economizing Committee.
On completion of the case docket the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Prosecutor General who decided to arraign the two officials in the Otjiwarongo Regional Court on (Count 1) contravening section 43(1) read with sections 32, 43(2), 43(3), 46, 49 and 51 of the Anticorruption Act, Act no. 8 of 2003) by allegedly corruptly using their respective offices or positions for gratification for the benefit of Hat World Trading CC and / or Haroldt //Geiseb.
The accused persons were arrested on the 14th of February 2019.
The case was postponed to the 29th of March in order for them to obtain legal representation and were granted bail of N$ 5000 each.
