The #fishrot case is probably going to be one of Namibia’s biggest cases since independence. Definitely top 10. If not top 3. If a bail hearing can cause the drama we are currently witnessing…can you imagine what this case will do for this country (in terms of DRAMA) once it hits trial? Judge Shafimana Ueitele is currently the man in the hot seat as the presiding judge and he seems to be doing just fine in the absence of Judge Herman Oosthuizen. I do however have to admit that i do miss Judge Herman Oosthuizen. But judging from proceedings of the last few days…Herman who? For what?
Anyways…let’s get to the drama that i am ranting and raving about. The ACC lead investigator was or still is on the witness stand today getting cross examined by a South African cut throat advocate, advocate Vas Soni. Advocate Vas Soni is leading a team of lawyers who are representing Sacky Shanghala, James Hatuikulipi and a nephew of Hatuikulipi, Pius Mwatelulo. Vas Soni’s CV is unmatched. The man had been in private legal practice since 1987. He has appeared in the Constitutional Court of South Africa and has acted as a judge in the High Court in that country. At some point Abuti Vas also led a Special Investigative Unit. If its one man that you want on your team…is Advocate Vas Soni.
Vas Soni
I tell you now…i am no law expert but even the most ordinary man on the street will tell you that the ACC Lead investigator Andreas Kanyangela is under immense pressure from all angles. Especially from the defense lead Advocate Vas Soni. This is because of the cut throat cross examination done by advocate Vas Soni.
From the barrage of questions…one bit that stood out for me was when advocate Vas Soni asked ACC Lead investigator Andreas Kanyangela about the state’s “star witness” The star witness being Jóhannes Stefánsson. He was asked whether he knows where Johanness Stefansson is right now and ACC Lead investigator Andreas Kanyangela admitted that he has no idea where Jóhannes Stefánsson is currently. Asked about how he knows that Jóhannes Stefánsson WILL testify…ACC Lead investigator Andreas Kanyangela said that through an affidavit in 2019, he confirmed that he will testify.
Obviously advocate Vas Soni jumped at the opportunity and questioned how the state can still claim that Jóhannes Stefánsson will testify if they do not even know where the man is today and that its ridiculous that they are dependent on an avidit from 2019! Oh, and Andreas Kanyangela also admitted that he has not been in contact with that Jóhannes Stefánsson since 2019.
