By Tunomukwathi Asino
WINDHOEK – A former nurse at the Hakahana Clinic run by the Ministry of Health and Social Services was last Friday handed a fine of N$10 000 in the regional court over fraud of N$9 000.
Irene Strauss, 50, who has since resigned was fined N$10 000 or in default of payment she will spend five years in prison, of which N$3 000 or two years’ imprisonment was suspended on condition she is not convicted of fraud or theft during the period of suspension of her sentence.
She was also ordered to repay the state N$9 239.44 on or before February 27.
The payment is to be made at the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.
“By my actions the ministry suffered a loss of N$9 239.44,” she confessed in a written submission.
The statement further said she knew that “Mutilifa was already paid by the Social Security Commission (SSC).”
“I am extremely sorry for having committed the offence,” stated Strauss.
Strauss said she committed the offence because her family was facing financial problems at the time.
She was arrested on November 7, 2012 and was on a warning prior to sentencing.
She was employed in the Ministry of Health and Social Services at the time of the crime.
Strauss informed the court she could only afford a fine of N$7 000.
At the sentencing, Magistrate Cosmos Endjala said: “All levels of society have fallen victims to the thieves of state funds and it is therefore the view of this court that the imposition of a prison sentence for fraud and theft involving state funds, even in the case of a first offender, would be an appropriate sentence in the circumstances in order to serve as a deterrent not only to the offender but to the rest who would follow suit.”
Strauss faced two counts of theft and fraud. She pretended to Beata Mutilifa who was employed by the Ministry of Health and Social Services that she would assist to pay back N$4 600 to the state on behalf of Mutilifa, and then by means of the said false pretences induced Mutilifa to the loss of N$4 600.
During November 2010, Strauss withdrew N$4 600 from Mutilifa’s account to pay the state but instead used it for herself.
She pleaded guilty on Friday. In her plea read in court, she informed the court that from November 1 2009 until January 25 2011, “I was employed in the Ministry of Health and Social Services stationed at Hakahana Clinic as a registered nurse. I was a senior of Mutilifa who was appointed as a staff nurse.”
Strauss said that between October 5 2010 and November 1 2010, while Mutilifa was on maternity leave, she withdrew N$4 639.44 and N$4 600, which were salary payments by the Ministry of Health and Social Services, that she intended to pay back to the ministry.
“As arranged with Mutilifa, I deposited the cheque of N$4 639.44 and withdrew the full amount. I withdrew a further amount of N$4 600 from the account of Mutilifa,” the statement said.