A woman accused of defrauding a private school in Windhoek of more than N$2,8 million, is fit to stand trial, two psychiatrists have found.
The reports by a psychiatrist employed by the State and one in private practice, both found that Maria Johanna Coetzee (52) suffered from bipolar 2 and post traumatic stress syndrome.
They, however, found that although she suffers from diminished capacity, she understands the court proceedings and is capable of mounting a defence. She is thus fit to stand trial.
Coetzee already pleaded guilty to the charges in May. She wanted to plead guilty to 13 of the fraud counts, but after her pleas were recorded, the judge was not satisfied that she admitted all the elements of the offences and noted down pleas of not guilty. Coetzee admitted that she stole some of the money and blamed it on a gambling addiction.
She is facing 18 counts of fraud, alternatively 12 counts of theft, six counts of attempted theft and a charge of money laundering.
Coetzee, who was free on bail of N$10 000, was traced in Pretoria, South Africa, after she left Namibia while on bail and extradited last year. She was granted bail in March 2019, after which she failed to appear for a scheduled pre-trial hearing.
The woman is accused of defrauding Windhoek International School, where she was employed as financial manager, by paying more than N$2,8 million from a bank account of the school to three bank accounts in her own name.
The State is alleging that the accused tried to transfer a total amount of about N$3,38 million from the school’s account to her own accounts, but that six of the transactions she tried to carry out were declined. She successfully transferred N$2,8 million to her accounts, it is alleged.
The fraud or theft and money laundering charges were committed from March to October 2018, the State said. Fraud was discovered on 23 October 2018 by the treasurer of the Board of the school, Francois Aylot.
She allegedly made irregular and unauthorised electronic fund transfers disguised as legitimate payments to creditors.
The transfers that were successful consisted of N$136 518.64 to AFPF; N$495 108.66 to Inland Revenue; N$343 371 to Methealth; N$48 204.12 to Loan Accounts Nedbank; N$14 686.66 to Social Security Commission; N$39 570.55 to City of Windhoek; N$5 770.62 to Bank Windhoek; N$149 017.21 to AFPF; N$341 878 to Methealth; N$536 045.73 to Inland Revenue; N$359 147.15 to Methealth and N$348 200 to Methealth. None of the payments, however, reached their supposed destination and were instead paid into one of her bank accounts.
The transfers that were not successful were N$490 234.52 to Inland Revenue; N$6 759.14 to V Hamukoto; N$18 730.34 to K van Rooi; N$9 474.80 to C George-Banda; N$23 963.53 to J Stroh and N$18 369 to S Behrens.
She is represented by Janita von Wielligh and the State by Timo Itula.