WNDHOEK – The twenty-sixth suspect in the academic fraud case was denied bail.
Tyson Picard the 26th accused who also faces charges he falsified his Grade 12 certificate was denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
The number of people arrested for allegedly forging their Grade 12 certificate now stands at 26 people who were arrested by the police. Nine of them were granted bail of N$1 000 each, while the rest were granted bail of N$5 000 each, but Pickard was not so fortunate when he appeared in court yesterday.
Magistrate John Sindano denied him bail, for fear that he would interfere with police investigations.
Kandiwapa Nangombe represented the State. The matter will proceed in January 2015.
Twenty-six job seekers were arrested on suspicion they submitted fake qualifications from bogus colleges in Zimbabwe in their quest to secure jobs.
The other accused are Gaseb Nelson Dansy, Hatutale Matheus, Calvin Daniel Khoi-Aob, Muhuka Mbaundja, Ngakareko Tjauira, Phillipus Lazarus, Eufemia Shinana, Willem Matheus, Wilhelm Immanuel Pombili, Sofia Nevonga, Regina Nelumbu, Annely Shilunga, Saima Nakathila, Josefina Iita, Benedicta Stefanus, Eliah Kaiko, David Ndemusuunye Shivinga, Monica Itengula, Paulus Ndara, Gregor Mbanze Sikerete, Samuel Samwel Sem, Nganekwa Linea Ingavenya and Nghaanekwa Lineekela.
Some of the suspects submitted the fake qualifications to several institutions of higher learning for entrance, while nine used the ‘qualifications’ to secure jobs in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and City Police.
Sources said the suspects informed the Namibian Qualifications Authority (NQA) they obtained their qualifications from colleges in Zimbabwe, which upon inquiry turned out to be bogus.
By Tunomukwathi Asino