Health officials arrested on fraud charges FRED GOEIEMANEight employees of the Ministry of Health and Social Services have appeared briefly before the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on 426 counts of fraud involving more than N$2 million.
The eight suspects were alternatively charged with theft immediately after their arrest on Tuesday.
The accused, who were not asked to plead, are: Jennifer Claasen (44), a former accountant at the health ministry, former enrolled nurses Naomi Tangeni Nanus (60) and Magrieta Sofia Januarie (55), enrolled nurse Dalina Isaacs (56), health assistant Jurgen Eldon Julie (40), Heyman Nowaseb (34), a labourer, and cleaners Frederika Maria Katukui (32) and Hedwig Campbell (52).
Magistrate Ndapewa Celma Amadhila transferred the matter to the Regional Court in Katutura, where it will be heard on 18 November.
She granted bail of N$10 000 for Nanus, Januarie and Isaacs. Julie, Nowaseb and Katukui were granted N$8 000 bail and Campbell N$5 000. Claassen’s bail was set at N$15 000.
Amadhila informed the accused to obtain legal representation before 18 November.
The Anti-Corruption Commission said in a media statement yesterday that the accused allegedly involved themselves in fraudulent overtime claims, board and lodging payments, arrears salary payments and cash bonuses that were submitted and processed on the financial system. They never worked the overtime, nor were they entitled to any of the reimbursements.
According to the ACC, once the payments were made into their accounts the cash was allegedly shared with the accountant Claasen, who allegedly masterminded the criminal enterprise.
It said claims to the value of N$2 million were submitted and paid out.