Specialised training required for ACC investigators: Olivier

The evolving crimes of corruption leading to perpetrators using advanced techniques and technologies, require trained and dedicated investigators with specialised skills and experience. This was according to the Anti-Corruption Commission's Chief Investigation Officer in the Erongo Region Willem Olivier, who stated that organised crime and cross-border crimes and corruption need investigators to be trained in other fields of investigation. Olivier made the remarks at the Erongo Region annual media briefing at Swakopmund on Monday. 'We cannot lag behind, we still need training in some fields, like first responders in computer forensics, in investigations of illicit financial flows and trade-based money laundering, digital currency/bitcoin, and blockchain technologies. We also need training in the investigation of illicit financial flows and trade-based money laundering,' he said. Olivier noted that many institutions like the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, FIC and the Special Investigations Unit of South Africa offer such training. There are currently ongoing investigations on 41 cases in the region. Some of the ongoing cases included disputes in awarding of land by traditional authorities, abuse of fuel cards by employees at a municipality and a Government ministry, as well as acquisition of national documents while not a citizen, among others. Another case where investigations are still ongoing is the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for renovating schools in the region to conform with COVID-19 requirements in 2020. The case was submitted by Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope and involves about N.dollars 36 million allocated by Government under the COVID-19 Infrastructure Grant for schools in the region to comply with COVID-19 regulations. This allegedly applies to the Omaruru educational circuit especially. Instances of payments being signed off, despite work at various sites not reflecting this, were cited, according to preliminary investigations. According to Olivier, the case whi ch was handed over to the ACC is not only complex and involves a lot of documentation that requires studying, but the lack of sufficient investigators at the office is hampering the speedy completion of this case. Source : The Namibia News Agency