Al Jazeera, which was one of the news publications leading the investigation into the Samherji cash-for-quotas scandal, has released a film entitled "Anatomy of a Bribe," which includes footage of Namibian officials taking money from Al Jazeera journalists posing as Chinese investors looking for a proposed joint-venture with Namibian fishing company Omualu.
During initial meetings, former Fisheries Minister Bernhard Esau is recorded requesting a donation of $200,000 (€181,542) for the ruling SWAPO party.
According to Al Jazeera, through the instructions of Omualu Managing Director Sacky Kadhila-Amoomo, the donation was meant to be funneled through the trust account of Sisa Namandje, the personal lawyer for all Namibian presidents since the country's independence in 1990, including current president, Hage Geingob.
Geingob has just won the recent Namibian election amid public outrage following the bribery allegations.
Namandje reportedly told the undercover reporters that they have to be "careful speaking to people about paying the minister."
Later, during negotiations for Omualu, the reporters were asked to make a $500,000 (€453,854) payment and give a 20 percent share of the joint-venture to Mike Nghipunya, CEO of the state-run fishing company, Fishcor, who would be provided preferential access to quotas in exchange.
Kadhila has since responded to the film, citing that he was just "playing along" as he knew the businessmen were fake.
Whistleblower Johannes Stefansson is also featured in the film, in once instance saying, "[Samherji] views Africa just as a country to give them cash. That's it."
Icelandic group Samherji, one of the world's largest seafood companies, is at the center of a cash-for-quota scandal, beginning with bribery allegations made by former managing director in Namibia, Johannes Stefansson.
Stefansson is now working with Namibian anti-corruption authorities on an investigation, alleging that he made bribe payments to officials on the authorization of Samherji CEO Thorsteinn Mar Baldvinsson.
WikiLeaks published more than over 30,000 documents -- the first of two batches it said it obtained from a whistleblower.
The fallout has been swift, and devastating to the reputation of both Samherji, affiliated companies, the country of Iceland, and banks involved in the financing of the group.
