Staff Reporter
FISHROT accused Lawyer, Maren de Klerk who is alleged to have played a paymaster role in the country’s “multi-million” fisheries corruption case will only hear his extradition case in January 2024.
According to the Executive Director of the Ministry of Justice, Gladice Pickering, De Klerk appeared in a South African Court on Monday 25 September 2023, and his extradition hearing was postponed until
13-16 January 2024. The matter was postponed as a result of additional information and documentation required from Namibian authorises.
Pickering added that Namibia will send a supplementary request for extradition to South Africa.
The suspect in June 2023, was granted bail of R50 000 with conditions after being arrested.
De Klerk is wanted by Namibian authorities for corruption, fraud, theft, and money laundering charges amounting up to N$130 million.
Commenting on the matter, the Minister Justice, Yvonne Dausab said that she does not want to spend alot of time speaking about the fishrot case because of where the case finds itself. She added that in principle the PG’s office does deal with the aspect of extradition.
“I cannot at this moment tell you what are the measures we are taking to specifically address those issues, they are sensitive. When it come to supranational matters, you are required to engage Interpol. I am not privy to those activities. The Ministry of Justice only ensures that international extradition requests are complied to in terms of the administrative process,” Dausab said.
She further said that what South Africa does with Namibia’s extradition request is dependent on the relationship they have with Namibia when it comes to extradition as well as the relationship SA has with de Klerk.
The Minister further said that issues around De Klerk and allegations of his safety being in jeopardy are not for public consumption. She added that a part of the Witness Protection Act also provides for anonymity when it involves the safety of an individual.
“The PG is the prosecutorial authority. The Ministry of Justice has no role to play, if the Prosecutor-General takes a decision to undertake activities to gain evidence in the fishrot case, I am not privy to them,” Dausab said.
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