Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen saved Forex traders Michael Amushelelo and Gregory Cloete the trouble of bringing a recusal application when she withdrew from the matter herself.
When the matter was due to start before her yesterday, she informed the parties that she is recusing herself from the matter, as she is personally acquainted with some of the State witnesses.
Amushelelo and Cloete already indicated to the judge that they intend to bring a recusal application against her for perceived bias when they made a first appearance before her.
The matter, in which they face more than 330 counts of contravening the Banking Act, was referred back to the mentions roll for another judge to be assigned to the matter.
Also charged are legal entities Amushe Hello Investment, Amushe Advertising & Design, Amushe International Holding, Van Der Walt Trailer Manufacturing, Amushelelo Family Trust T187/2019 and Global Growth Investment Namibia – all represented by Amushelelo as founder and sole member.
The charges are 348 counts of fraud, alternatively theft by false pretences, conducting banking business without authorisation and conducting a Ponzi scheme, tax evasion, tax fraud, failure to pay tax, money laundering and racketeering.
All in all, the accused faces 365 counts.
According to the charge sheet, Amushelelo and Cloete worked in a partnership, collaboration and/or in collusion with one another in a fraudulent enterprise formulated and operated as a Ponzi…
