Teko trio still waiting for ruling The Supreme Court is yet to pronounce itself on an urgent application appealing the dismissal of another application by the High Court in which the ''Teko trio'' sought the recusal of a judge from their trial.Accused of committing fraud involving more than N$120 million at the Ministry of Finance in 2009, Namibians Teckla Lameck, 48, and Jerobeam Mokaxwa, 30, and Chinese national Yang Fan, 39, appeared in court on Monday.
High Court Judge Naomi Shivute postponed their case until 23 November to allow the Supreme Court to pronounce itself on an appeal by the group against the dismissal of their application for the recusal of Acting High Court Judge Maphios Cheda.
Acting Judge Cheda dismissed the trio''s application for his recusal in a judgment on 14 November 2014.
Not happy with this ruling, the trio''s privately instructed defence lawyer Sisa Namandje approached the Supreme Court with an urgent application appealing against the dismissal of his clients'' application for Judge Cheda to be recused from the trial.
A ruling on this appeal application is still pending.
Lameck, a former Public Service Commission (PSC) member; Mokaxwa - Lameck''s business partner in the Teko Trading company; and Yang denied all 18 charges of fraud at the beginning of their trial in April 2014.
The two Namibians are free on bail of N$50 000 each, while Yang is free on bail of N$1 million.
Their bail was extended until their next court appearance on 23 November.
The three accused were arrested on 8 and 9 July 2009 by officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in connection with the alleged scam through which the Ministry of Finance bought security-scanning equipment from a Chinese company.
About 20 out of more than 80 State witnesses have testified so far. State Advocate Shakwa Nyambe is appearing for the prosecution.
NAMPA