Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Legal representation delays witness fees scam case

Home National Legal representation delays witness fees scam case
Legal representation delays witness fees scam case

A lack of legal representation for some of the accused charged alongside former prosecutor Ivan Tjizu for allegedly fraudulently scamming the Office of the Judiciary in witness fees, has caused a delay in the trial.

Windhoek magistrate Johannes Shuuveni postponed the matter to 9 February 2022 to allow Festus Mweendeleli, Benjamin Amoomo and Martin Nepando to sort out their legal representation. The court ordered for a warrant of arrest for Eino Kombanda, who is at large.

Nepando informed the court that he is still waiting for the Directorate of Legal Aid to respond to his application, while Amoomo’s application was declined and he will engage a private lawyer. Mweendeleli said he will reapply after his State lawyer withdrew.

Mweendeleli, Komanda, Amoomo and Nepando are charged alongside former prosecutor Tjizu, Sackaria Panduleni, Paulus Fillemon, Today Amoomo, Sam Haiduwa, Andrew Masipa, Gabriel Usko, Alvin Kuutondokwa, Pendukeni Shikongo, Michael Namene, Kuuke Kamaantu, Dave Valombola and Isai Nathanael in the matter.

The group is charged with more than 130 counts of corruption under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. 

The charges range from fraud to managing an enterprise, conducted through a pattern of racketeering activities, corruptly giving a false document containing false statements to an agent and money – laundering.

The prosecution charges that while Tjizu was working for the office of the Prosecutor General, stationed at the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, he conspired with his co-accused in scamming N$410 000 from the Office of the Judiciary through paid-out witness fees. 

It is alleged that the group fraudulently worked together with a web of people in claiming witness fees for people who allegedly travelled from outside Windhoek, and were arranged to pose as State witnesses during court sessions.  

As a prosecutor at the time, Tjizu would allegedly misrepresent the witnesses to the presiding magistrate, and as a result witness fees were falsely claimed and paid out. Once witness fees had allegedly been paid out to people who were arranged to pose as witnesses, the money would then be shared.

All accused are currently on warning. 

-mamakali@nepc.com.na