Former Karibib CEO Sentenced for corruption

The former Chief Executive Officer of Karibib, Lydia Vekawana Kandetu, was found guilty on a charge of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act in the Swakopmund Regional Court and sentenced to a fine of N$5 000 or alternatively two years in prison. The judgement and sentence was delivered on 27 May.
Kandetu was charged in 2013 after it emerged that she allegedly corruptly used her office or position for gratification and thereby contravened a section of the Anti-Corruption Act. Three years down the line she was found guilty in the Regional Court. She was found not guilty on the alternative charges, being that the accused corruptly used a false document by an agent and another charge of fraud.
According to the charge sheet Kandetu, as the then CEO of the Karibib Town Council, used her position to unlawfully and wrongfully increase her salary dramatically to an unrealistically high amount. “The accused directly or indirectly and corruptly used her office or position in a public body which was the Karibib Town Council, to obtain gratification for her own benefit,” the charge reads.
She effected a personal salary increment in her favour from an agreed N$151 451.07 per annum to almost double the amount of N$272 538.00. In essence this would mean she gave herself a salary increase of N$121 086.93, which translates into 55.5%. To get approval for the huge salary increment Kandetu allegedly convinced the Karibib Town Council that the increase was approved by the then Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, whereas in fact no such thing transpired. In a court exhibit forming part of the evidence of the state’s case, a letter from Hon Jerry Ekandjo, then Minister of the above-mentioned Ministry, is attached. In his letter, dated 27 March 2012, the Minister confirms the appointment of the CEO and approves an annual salary of only N$151 451.07.
Even though the Minister gave strict orders regarding a salary structure, Kandetu’s employment contract, which was signed for a period of five years in November 2011, paints an entirely different picture. In the contract her remuneration is indicated as N$272 538.00 per annum, with even more benefits added on top of that. When adding all her benefits, including housing allowance, motor vehicle allowance and a bonus, the total yearly remuneration for Kandetu would stand at N$385 156. Her motor vehicle allowance was agreed upon to be N$82 706 per annum. On top of that, other benefits included Town Council to contribute 70% to her medical aid.