Tuesday, September 19, 2006

A WELL-KNOWN television commentator and senior employee in the Ministry of
Environment and Tourism, Sackey Namugongo, is behind bars after he was
arrested on fraud-related charges. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
officials and the Namibian Police swooped on Namugongo at Windhoek
International Airport yesterday morning as he returned from a trip to
Johannesburg, South Africa. Namugongo faces charges related to the
production and issuing of fake gambling licences. The Director of the ACC,
Paulus Noa, said it was suspected that Namu­gongo could be one of a network
of people who allegedly issued unauthorised gambling licences to individuals
and companies. "It could be that he is not the only one involved. We will
oppose his bail application because it could jeopardise our chances of
arresting more people," Noa said when he confirmed the arrest to The
Namibian. Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Angula Amulungu was unable to
confirm Namugongo's arrest. Noa said it was alleged that Namugongo had made
several copies of the same document and issued gambling licences bearing the
same number to many people.

"It has been going on for some time now.

We are talking of something that will amount to a big scam," Noa said.

He appealed to people who have been issued with gambling licences to
approach the ACC or the Police with information related to the scam.

Government earlier this year lifted a moratorium on licences, which had been
in place for nearly 10 years.

State revenue from gambling amounts to about N$20 million a year.

Cabinet agreed in August 2004 already to lift the moratorium on gambling
licences but it took time before it was done.

Since the promulgation of the Casinos and Gambling Houses Act in 1994, 260
gambling-house licences and three casino licences were issued.

No new licences have been issued since 1996, when Cabinet established a
Commission of Inquiry to investigate the detrimental impact gambling could
have on society and the ease with which gambling licences were being issued.