WINDHOEK – Regional Court Magistrate Dinnah Usiku on Tuesday fined five people who embezzled N$344 000 from the Social Security Commission (SSC) in 2006.

The accused are  Bernard Joseph, David Frans, Titus Harry, Fidelis Neumbo and Oosthuizen Jacques. They were convicted on charges of fraud and theft by false pretence.

Joseph was sentenced to a fine of N$5 000, alternatively two years in prison. Frans was sentenced to a fine of N$6 000 or alternatively two years and four months in prison.

Harry was sentenced to a fine of N$5 500, alternatively two years and six months in prison.

Neumbo was sentenced to pay N$6 500 or alternatively spend two years and ten months in prison.

Jacques was sentenced to pay N$7 000 or spend two years and ten months in prison.

Each of the accused was also sentenced to three years in prison suspended for five years on condition they were not convicted of fraud and theft by false pretence during the period of suspension. They were also ordered to refund the SSC the stole money, on or before March 31 2014.

Joseph has to refund N$2 000, Frans has to refund N$2 500, Harry has to refund N$1 400, Neumbo has to refund N$600 and Jacques has to refund the Social Security Commission N$4 000.

The men paid the fines yesterday.

 By Tunomukwathi Asino