Namibia: Namugongo Arrested Over Fake Licences for Gambling
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.
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