Namibia Minute.
Saturday, 25 April 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 25 April 2026
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Organization

Samherji

Also known as: Samherji hf. · Icelandic fishing giant Samherji · Icelandic fishing company Samherji · Icelandic fishing company

Samherji — Icelandic fishing company at center of Namibian corruption scandal involving alleged bribery for fishing quotas (2012–2019) and subject of billion-dollar lawsuit by Fishcor.

Politics

Esau's lawyer argues pre-trial detention is oppressive and unfair

The News

Lawyer Florian Beukes argued in High Court that his client Bernard Esau, 69, has experienced oppressive pre-trial incarceration after seven years in custody since his arrest in November 2019, citing exhausted defence funds and violation of constitutional rights to a speedy trial. Esau and nine co-accused, including former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, face 42 counts including corruption and racketeering over allegedly receiving N$300 million in payments to favour the Icelandic fishing company Samherji.

Why it matters

Bernard Esau's seven-year pre-trial detention raises urgent constitutional concerns about the right to a speedy trial in a high-profile corruption case.

22 hours ago · Informanté →

Yesterday

  1. Esau's lawyer argues pre-trial detention is oppressive and unfair

    Lawyer Florian Beukes argued in High Court that his client Bernard Esau, 69, has experienced oppressive pre-trial incarceration after seven years in custody since his arrest in November 2019, citing exhausted defence funds and violation of constitutional rights to a speedy trial. Esau and nine co-accused, including former Justice Minister Sacky Shanghala, face 42 counts including corruption and racketeering over allegedly receiving N$300 million in payments to favour the Icelandic fishing company Samherji.

    22 hours ago · Informanté →

Thursday 16 April

  1. 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 →

  2. 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 →

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Fishrot trial stalls as court grapples with legal procedure dispute

    Proceedings in the high-profile corruption trial of former justice minister Sacky Shanghala and others have stalled over a disagreement about which of two competing appeals applications should be heard first—a recusal challenge or a stay-of-proceedings request. The court has adjourned until 5 May 2026 to resolve the procedural impasse.

    14 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 7 April

  1. Supreme Court upholds asset seizure in Fishrot corruption case

    Namibia's Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by three Fishrot accused—former attorney general Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi, and Pius Mwatelulo—challenging the prosecutor general's use of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act to seize their assets. The court upheld the High Court's restraint order covering bank funds, properties, vehicles, and luxury goods, finding that the prosecutor general may rely on Anti-Corruption Commission evidence rather than police investigations alone.

    7 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 25 March

  1. Fisheries ministry passes Samherji workers' compensation claims to Labour

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform has referred compensation claims from 252 former Samherji employees to the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations, noting that affected workers were already considered under a government redress programme aimed at reintegrating them into the fishing industry following the company's 2019–2020 closure. Some former employees argue that placement at other companies does not fully address their financial losses.

    25 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 5 March

  1. 252 Samherji workers demand compensation seven years after job losses

    Former employees of Icelandic fishing company Samherji have renewed demands for compensation seven years after losing their jobs when the company ceased operations in Namibia following the 2019 Fishrot scandal. The 252 workers, who received only N$10,000 severance and no consideration for years of service, say they have been left struggling financially while assets and vessels were sold off.

    5 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 4 March

  1. Fishrot fugitive lawyer sues over seizure of N$1.3 million pension

    Maren De Klerk, a lawyer implicated in the Fishrot corruption scandal, has taken the Prosecutor General and Inspector General of Police to court seeking release of his N$1.3 million pension fund, which he claims was unlawfully seized. De Klerk, accused of channelling millions through his law firm to co-accused ex-cabinet ministers in the N$10 billion scheme, remains in South Africa pending extradition after technical defects delayed the State's initial extradition application.

    4 March 2026 · Informanté →

Saturday 7 February

  1. Fishrot prosecutors threaten resignation, receive N$54,000 salary increase

    Two high-profile state prosecutors leading the Fishrot fraud and corruption trial, Deputy Prosecutor General Ed Marondedze and State Prosecutor Cliff Lutibezi, threatened to resign over low pay and were subsequently granted a N$54,000 monthly salary increase. The salary increase has drawn criticism from some colleagues whose own pleas for raises have not been addressed, and from a former deputy prosecutor general who says the timing is problematic given the case's current stage.

    7 February 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 22 January

  1. Fishrot corruption trial set to begin March 9, 2026

    After nearly six years, the fishing quota corruption trial in which Namibian fisheries resources were allegedly stolen through deals with Icelandic company Samherji will begin on March 9, 2026. Acting Judge Marilize du Plessis rejected multiple postponement applications from former minister Sacky Shanghala and co-accused, ruling that lengthy delays in the civil review process and years of court proceedings weighed against further delay.

    22 January 2026 · New Era →

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