2016-12-07Staff Report 2 Windhoek The prosecutor general will make a ruling on the case involving Charles Winston Manale, who is accused of embezzling N$4 million from Standard Bank, due to the seriousness of the charges. Magistrate Venatius Sebby Alweendo ruled yesterday that the prosecutor general should decide Manale’s fate due to the seriousness of the charges levelled against him. Manale, who is a cross-dresser, was brought before court yesterday on charges of fraud and theft. Manale took the stand and pleaded not guilty on both charges. Manale’s defence lawyer Meriam Kenaruzo informed the court her client wished to remain silent on the reasons for his plea until such a time when two witnesses testify. “We reserve the right to witnesses for the next proceedings,” said Kenaruzo. Public prosecutor Ivann Tjizu explained the charges levelled against the accused to the court, elaborating that between September 2013 and December 2015, Manale allegedly intentionally defrauded Standard bank Namibia and further defrauded Dorothea Christiana Du Plessis, a client of Standard Bank, by transferring fraudulent payments from the trust fund of the bank into his personal bank account. Prosecutor Tjizu explained Manale knew very well the trust money was not entitled to him, which indicates he made the transfers with the intent of stealing the funds. During the aforesaid period, Manale worked in Standard Bank Namibia’s Trust Account Division in Windhoek. Thirty-two-year-old Manale handed himself to the police after being on the run and made his first appearance in court on January 29, when he was denied bail. Even though the defence lawyer requested bail, magistrate Alweendo denied the accused bail. “The accused will remain in custody,” ruled Alweendo. The case has been on the roll several times but due to incomplete investigations, absent witnesses and outstanding bank statements could not proceed. The case has now been postponed to February 20, 2017. 2016-12-07Staff Report 2
