Two of the six Zambezi Regional Council management members accused of embezzling development funds meant for the Kongola settlement, appeared in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where they were granted bail.
Abraham Shikoyeni was arrested in Windhoek on Monday, while Nimrod Lichela, was also apprehended on the same day. Their arrests followed the earlier detention of four colleagues on charges related to corruption, including the Chief Regional Officer of the Zambezi Regional Council, Regina Ndopu-Lubinda.
The accused are facing allegations of embezzling approximately N.dollars 4 million in development funds earmarked for the Kongola settlement between 2016 and 2020.
Ndopu-Lubinda, Beaven Matengu Walubita, and Daniel Mbala were arrested earlier on Monday.
The State argued that the bail amount of N.dollars 50 000 was in line with the alleged embezzled sum of N.dollars 4 million. Ndopu-Lubinda, Walubita and Mubita managed to secure their bail, while Shikoyeni, Lichela and Mbala remain in custody.
It is currently uncertain whether the accused will continue to occupy their respective positions within the council or if they have been suspended pending the legal proceedings.
The case has been postponed until 07 December 2023, to allow the accused individuals to secure legal representation.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency