WINDHOEK: Former Minister of Justice , Sakeus Shanghala on Monday filed an application seeking a separate trial in the Fishrot matter in which he stands accused . Shanghala , alongside James Hatuikulipi and Pius Mwatelulo , objected to taking pleas without legal representation . The three are charged alongside former Fisheries Minister Bernardt Esau , Mike Nghipunya , Ricardo Gustavo , Tamson Hatuikulipi , Otneel Shuudifonya , Phillipus Mwapopi and Nigel van Wyk . The suspects are charged with 42 charges ranging from racketeering and money laundering to corruption and fraud . They were arrested in 2019 after they allegedly received bribes from Icelandic fishing company Samherji in exchange for fishing quotas . Last week , presiding Judge Moses Chinhengo ordered that the trial commence , with or without legal representation . Shanghala in his affidavit said a separate trial would allow the trial of his co – accused to proceed unhindered and without delay . ‘ The lack of legal representation has prejudiced the
unrepresented accused applicants in that they were unable to consider and prepare . If the separation is not granted , the right to a speedy trial will trump the right to a substantive fair trial , favouring those represented accused over the unrepresented accused for the sake of a speedy trial ,’ Shanghala said in his affidavit , adding that the presiding judge had not afforded him , James Hatuikulipi and Mwatelulo a reasonable opportunity to secure legal representation . Last week , Judge Chinhengo ordered the trial to continue , with pleas to be taken on Monday . One of the suspects , Gustavo , was however not in attendance as he had been admitted to a Windhoek hospital . Chinhengo postponed the matter to Tuesday .

Source: The Namibia News Agency