… Du Plessis recuse herself.Gustavo and Shanghala were arrested alongside former minister of fisheries and marine resources Bernardt Esau, former Investec Namibia managing director James Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo, Tamson Hatuikulipi, Nigel van Wyk, Ricardo Gustavo, former Fishcor …
Fishrot stuck in starting blocksNamibia Minute.
Monday, 11 May 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization
Fishcor
Also known as: National Fishing Corporation of Namibia
Fishcor — Namibia's state-owned fishing company at center of corruption scandal involving alleged bribery by Icelandic company Samherji between 2012 and 2019.
In coverage
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
- April 2026
Icelandic fishing company Samherji says a lawsuit filed against it and related companies by a Scottish firm acting on behalf of Namibia’s state-owned fishing company Fishcor is baseless. …
Samherji calls N$18.3 billion Fishcor lawsuit baseless… Other accused include former fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau, his son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi, former Fishcor chief executive officer Mike Nghipunya, as well as Ricardo Gustavo, Otneel Shuudifonya, Nigel van Wyk and Philipus Mwapopi. …
Fishrot assets to remain frozen… The other suspects are former fisheries minister Bernhard Esau, his son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi, former Fishcor chief executive Mike Nghipunya, Pius Mwatelulo, and Former Investec executive Ricardo Gustavo. …
Govt struggles to net Fishrot assets abroad as legal hurdles and bank delays stall progress- March 2026
… Another of the accused in the matter, former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) chief executive Mike Nghipunya, supported the application for Du Plessis to step down from the case, which was assigned to her in July last year. …
Judge Du Plessis dismisses attempt to get her off Fishrot case… ent, Gustavo sets out the grounds for his opposition to the recusal application filed by Shanghala and Hatuikulipi.The attempt to get Du Plessis to step down from the case is being supported by one of the other accused in the matter, former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia …
Fishrot accused says recusal bid aims to delay trial- January 2026
… In charges against 10 men awaiting trial in the High Court in connection with the Fishrot scandal, it is alleged that N$81.8 million in fish quota usage fees which were supposed to be paid to the state-owned National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) were channelled throug …
Fugitive Fishrot lawyer challenges police over N$1.3 million pension seizure… side of specifically [Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo].” Du Plessis made the remark in a ruling on applications by Shanghala, Hatuikulipi, Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya and defence lawyer Veiko Alexander, representing former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia …
Shanghala and co‑accused delaying Fishrot trial, judge says- May 2024
… In charges against 10 men awaiting trial in the High Court in connection with the Fishrot scandal, it is alleged that N$81,8 million in fishing quota usage fees which were supposed to be paid to the state-owned National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) was channelled thro …
Lawyer De Klerk barred from case about seized accounts- March 2024
… Public enterprise beneficiaries include the University of Namibia (Unam), TransNamib, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), New Era Corporation, the National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) and the Roads Contractor Company (RCC). …
Credit Where It’s Due, Just Not for the Crumbs
Politics
Fishrot trial postponed as recusal application stays proceedings
The News
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
Thursday 16 April
Fishrot trial postponed as recusal application stays proceedings
The Fishrot case has been postponed to 24 April 2026 as former justice minister Sakeus Shanghala pursues leave to appeal a ruling dismissing his request for Judge Marelize du Plessis to recuse herself. Ricardo Gustavo's lawyer argues the repeated delays infringe the accused's right to a speedy trial and violate constitutional rights.
16 April 2026 · New Era →
Samherji defends against N$18.3 billion Fishcor lawsuit
A Scottish litigation firm is pursuing a US$1 billion claim against Icelandic fishing company Samherji on behalf of Namibia's state-owned Fishcor, alleging the company used bribes and corruption to obtain fishing quotas between 2012 and 2019. Samherji denies the allegations and says it is defending itself in London courts.
16 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Wednesday 8 April
Supreme Court upholds freeze on Fishrot corruption saga assets
Namibia's Supreme Court has upheld a High Court order preventing those accused in the Fishrot corruption case from accessing forfeited assets, rejecting an appeal by former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo. The court found that the Anti-Corruption Commission had proper authority to conduct the investigation and that the restraint order remains valid pending the outcome of the criminal trial, which is scheduled to recommence in March 2026.
8 April 2026 · New Era →
Wednesday 1 April
Curators struggle to recover overseas assets in Fishrot scandal
Government-appointed curators tasked with seizing assets linked to the Fishrot corruption scandal face legal hurdles and institutional delays in accessing foreign properties owned by suspects, with a February 2025 court order needed to extend seizure powers abroad. The curators report ongoing obstacles including uncooperative banks, missed meetings with defendants, and slow responses from financial institutions, hampering their efforts to catalogue and recover assets valued at over N$317 million.
1 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 24 March
Judge Du Plessis refuses to step down from Fishrot trial
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis rejected an application by two accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case to recuse herself, finding that her factual observations about trial delays did not demonstrate bias and that her acquaintance with two state witnesses would not affect her impartiality.
24 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 10 March
Fishrot defendant opposes co-accused recusal bid against judge
Ricardo Gustavo, first accused in the Fishrot fraud and corruption case, says a recusal application by former attorney general Sacky Shanghala and James Hatuikulipi against acting judge Marilize du Plessis is intended to delay the trial. The judge is expected to rule on the recusal application on 23 March.
10 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Tuesday 27 January
Fugitive Fishrot lawyer sues over N$1.3 million pension seizure
Marén de Klerk, a fugitive lawyer wanted in connection with the Fishrot fraud case, is challenging the Namibian Police's seizure of his N$1.3 million retirement annuity with Sanlam Namibia, arguing the seizure violates the Pension Funds Act and that pension benefits cannot be seized under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
27 January 2026 · The Namibian →
Friday 23 January
Judge finds Shanghala and co-accused delaying Fishrot trial
Acting judge Marilize du Plessis ruled that former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and two co-accused have been using a strategy to delay their Fishrot fraud, corruption and racketeering trial, which has been pending since October 2021 without witness testimony yet beginning. Du Plessis rejected their postponement applications and ordered the trial to continue, though she granted a brief postponement to allow defence representation time to prepare.
23 January 2026 · The Namibian →