Two accused in N$140 million fraud granted bail

Home National Two accused in N$140 million fraud granted bail

Windhoek

The number of accused out on bail in the fraud case involving N$140 million from the Receiver of Revenue now stand at three, after two accused were granted bail on Wednesday in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.

A Namibian, Mamsy Mweneni Hilma Nuuyoma and Angolan national Lucio Jose Cazembe must have heaved a sigh of relief after they were granted bail of N$50 000 each by Magistrate Gerrit Brand van Pletzen. They had spent their Christmas and New Year behind bars.

As part of their bail conditions, the two have to report to the Windhoek police station every Friday and have to hand in their travelling documents. Kadhila Amoomo of Sisa Namandje & Co law firm represented them. Hans Thourob represented the State.

Joshua Kaviyu, also a Namibian, was the first and only accused granted bail last month. Kaviyu is part of a group of 17 Angolans and two Namibians, who were nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in December. The other 16 accused remain in custody.

The Namibians allegedly connived with several Angolans to submit false tax refund claims to the Receiver of Revenue. Joshua Kaviyu Hidinwa, the first accused, alone faces a charge of conspiracy to commit fraud, while he and his co-accused face charges of fraud, forgery and uttering.

The Angolan nationals were identified as Lukau Nestor, Benvindo Momafuba, Pembele Zimutu, Paulo Kiala, Joaquim Pedro Espanhol, Joao Manuel dos Santos, Tatiana Luquena Muchadu Gonga, Carlos Victor Eliseu, Isaac Cativa Cupessala, Paquete Americo Kapayola Jose, Eugenio Pio do Amaral Gougel, Malakias Tomas Rufine, Paulino Manuel Natal, Carlos Felecoano Tchinduku, Miapa Aurelio Nelson and Noah Boykie Nukosho.

They were arrested at the VAT office near the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule in Windhoek in December while trying to claim tax refunds.

The arrests came as a result of ongoing investigations at the request of the finance ministry into cases where value added tax (VAT) receipts were forged to fraudulently claim refunds from the Receiver of Revenue.