WINDHOEK – The Prosecutor-General has decided to prosecute three men who stand accused of stealing N$1.1 million from Air Namibia.
Penna Munyunda, 31, Tangi Amon Namwandi, 33, and Marx Felali Mahoto (age unknown) are expected to stand trial in the Windhoek Regional Court as per the Prosecutor General’s decision.
According to the decision, Munyunda is facing a count of fraud with an alternative count of theft in connection to N$1. 1 million; a count of fraud and alternative count of theft in connection to N$760 000; two counts of disguising unlawful origin of a property in relation to N$1.1 million and N$760 000 respectively with two alternative counts of disguising unlawful origin of a property respectively.
Namwandi is charged with one count of theft in relation to N$1.1 million; a count of disguising unlawful origin of a property, unlawful disguise with an alternative count of disguising unlawful origin of a property, unlawful disguise in connection to the N$1.1 million and a count of acquisition, use and possession of proceeds of unlawful activities on diverse occasions.
Mahoto is facing a count of fraud with an alternative count of theft in connection to N$760 000; a count of disguising unlawful origin of a property, unlawful disguise and a count of acquisition, use and possession of proceeds of unlawful activities on diverse occasions in relation to N$760 000.
The prosecution is alleging that the trio, defraud Air Namibia an amount of N$1.1 million by enticing the bank that they were entitled to the payments from the national airliner knowing fully well that they were not entitled to such payments.
Court documents indicate that the attempt to steal N$1.1 million is at the expense of Air Namibia and or one Lucy Mhambi. It is alleged that the transfer in question was fully authorised and signed off to be paid to NAC when a suspicious request was made to the bank for the money to be transferred to a different bank account other than that of NAC.
Munyunda and his co-accused were arrested in October 2017 when a local bank alerted Air Namibia of a detected dubious transaction. It is alleged that there was doubtful diversion of money meant for payments at Namibia Airports Company (NAC) from the national airliner into the accused’s account.
According to the prosecution, only N$190 000 of the N$1.1 million is reportedly unaccounted for.
The three men are each free on bail of N$50 000 which was extended yesterday by Magistrate Olga Likando until they make their first appearance in the Regional Court on October 24.