By Anna Shilongo
WINDHOEK
The number of people accused of having defrauded the Social Security Commission (SSC) of an amount in excess of N$344 000 rose from 59 to 64, when investigators added the names of five other suspects to the charge sheet.
The five new suspects who appeared in the Katutura Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday are Victor Ihuhua (44), Jannie Rooi (33), Peter Meyer (27), Ludwig Araeb (31), and Martin Tsuseb.
The alleged mastermind behind the N$344 000 fraud is 30- year-old Maxwell Spanneberg, whose case again attracted a huge crowd that crammed the courtroom.
Spanneberg, who was supposed to be represented by Jan Wessels of Stern & Barnard Associates, could not make a plea in the absence of his lawyer. He then appealed for a possible postponement of his case.
Magistrate Clemence Daniels granted him an opportunity to access his rights and his case was postponed to next week Wednesday for possible plea in terms of section 119 of the Criminal Procedures Act.
He will reappear on November 28, 2007 together with his co-accused for further investigation and pending the Prosecutor-General’s decision.
The PG will however not make a decision before Spanneberg makes a plea.
The accused who is charged with fraud and corruption, is a former SSC employee who worked in the Registry Division at the head office in Windhoek.
It is suspected that he used the computer passwords of other staff members to lodge, process and authorise fraudulent sick leave claims that he allegedly pocketed.
Spanneberg was suspended from his post on August 30 last year when a full-scale investigation of his activities was ordered.
He was dismissed on November 2, after being found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing.
Following his dismissal, Spanneberg was later arrested in November after which he was granted bail of N$15 000, with a list of conditions attached.
Last year Spanneberg was ordered to report to the police at Otjomuise twice each day – at 06h00 and again at 18h00.
He is not allowed to leave the district of Windhoek without the investigator’s permission, and he may not contact any of his co-accused, SSC employees or any person who might be a potential witness in his case.
He is not allowed to enter any SSC premises, the magistrate ordered.
The magistrate also placed Spanneberg under nighttime house arrest by ordering that he may not leave the house where he stays in Otjomuise in Windhoek between 19h00 and 05h00 each night.
Meanwhile, the public prosecutor, Lino Dingo, requested the court to reduce the bail of accused two, three, and four, from N$5, 000 to N$2, 000, which was approved by magistrate Daniels.
However, not all suspects were represented by lawyers, as only 25 of the 64 had legal representation while others still need to apply for legal aid.
The 25 suspects were represented by Andre Louw, Boris Isaacs, Mel Harmse Associates, Hennie Barnard and Partners, Eino Kamanya of Sisa Namandje and Company, and Louise Casten of Neves Legal Practitioners