WINDHOEK – The police in Eenhana are investigating case of fraud against an old lady who is accused of swindling government out of N$42 000 in social grants for the elderly. The old woman, whom the Ohangwena Region police have identified as Faustina Simon, is currently being held in the Eenhana police holding cells awaiting a second court appearance on November 07, when she is expected to make a formal bail application. She was arrested on October 16 for fraud, forgery and uttering. Police say the fraud and forgery date back to 2006.
The elderly woman defrauded government using two fake identification documents, one pitting her age at 63 years and the other at 68 years. It is alleged the old lady has been receiving two pension grants using the two different identity documents. The police also allege that Simon forged documentation to obtain an identity document that made her appear older than she was, enabling her to obtain the state pension grant four years before she turned 60 years, the legal age of receiving the grant.
“We are shocked by the old woman’s action. We didn’t know what she was practising until the police came to us with copies of the fake birth certificates,” said one of the village chiefs at Hauwanga village where Simon resides.
Ohangwena regional commander, Tylves Kampolo, said Simon is in possession of two full birth certificates which she used to register for the old age pension grant. One certificate apparently says she was born in 1945 while the other one contains that she was born is 1950. She started receiving the grant in 2006 using the birth certificate of 1945. In 2009 she allegedly obtained another full birth certificate saying she was born in 1950.
In 2010, Simon then turned 60 years and hence qualified to receive the pension grant, enabling her to cash in on the government’s pension scheme twice a month.
Villagers are now complaining that granny Simon has been causing trouble in the village, and stands accused of killing a neighbour’s pregnant sow and burying the piglets. Simon was fined N$1 000 and two cattle by the traditional court. Villagers also accuse Simon of corralling a neighbour’s three donkeys in her kraal and assaulting them until they died.
By Albertina Nakale