Keetmanshoop
Eight people implicated in a massive N$4 million fraud case uncovered at //Kharas Regional Council last year appeared before Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where their case was postponed to May 31 for plea and trial.
The court was informed by State Prosecutor Atutala Shikalepo that police investigations into the multi-million dollar fraud case have been finalised. Shikalepo told the court that investigations into the matter have been finalised for plea. She asked that the matter be remanded to May 31 when the eight accused will be expected to submit a plea.
The eight accused are Raimond Snewe, 32, Desmond Rudath, 41, Hannalie Jacob, 34, Brian Snewe, 42, Petrus Theuns Isaacks, 26, and Martha Bonita Mupaine, 31, and her husband Carlos Mupaine, 39 and Ludwig Jonker, who each face two charges of fraud, theft, forgery and uttering, corruption and money laundering.
Magistrate Murray Shikongo remanded the case to May 31, after explaining to the accused that the date has been agreed upon by the State and defence counsel. The bail conditions of all accused were extended to the same date and the magistrate warned them to appear on the said date or risk being arrested.
The case surfaced last year after an accountant at the Ministry of Education discovered suspicious payments made into two bank accounts for “services rendered” to the ministry. The amount involved is believed to have shot up upong further investigation to about N$4 million from the initial N$1,4 million.