FISHROT scandal whistleblower Jóhannes Stefánsson was a main topic of discussion as the bail hearing of a key figure in the criminal case flowing from the scandal, Tamson 'Fitty' Hatuikulipi, continued in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.

Testifying for a second day in support of his application to be granted bail, Hatuikulipi recounted that during his first meeting with Stefánsson, which he said had taken place at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek in 2011, Stefánsson told him he had messed up the operations of his employer, the Icelandic fishing company group Samherji, in Morocco, causing Samherji a loss of US$2,5 million.

Hatuikulipi said Stefánsson also said this had happened because he had been abusing alcohol and drugs, which had taken his focus off his work.

Hatuikulipi told acting judge David Munsu that Stefánsson wanted his help to get Samherji introduced to holders of Namibian fishing rights and quotas who would be willing to conclude fishing agreements that would give Samherji access to Namibian quotas.

According to Hatuikulipi, Stefánsson was not an easy partner to work with, as he demanded a lot of attention from Hatuikulipi and help to sort out problems caused by an alcohol and substance abuse habit on his part.

A substantial part of Hatuikulipi's testimony yesterday was devoted to a reading of sworn statements by former colleagues of Stefánsson, with the focus on accounts of Stefánsson's lifestyle during the time he was employed by Samherji in Namibia.

In the...

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