Donatus granted N$50 000 bail in credit card scandal

Walvis Bay Rural Constituency councillor and former Erongo Regional Council chair Florian Donatus (43) was granted bail of N$50 000 following his first appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court yesterday.Donatus faces 26 charges, including 13 counts of fraud, 13 counts of money laundering, and an alternative count of theft, involving goods valued at just over N$116 000. The case was postponed to 29 October 2026 for further proceedings.He was represented in court by Sherrow Malumbano and Gehas Katoma of Kadhilu Amoono Legal Practitioners.According to the charge sheet, Donatus allegedly misrepresented himself as authorised to purchase goods on behalf of the Erongo Regional Council at Metro Cash & Carry in Walvis Bay between December 2024 and June 2025.The state alleges that he unlawfully induced the retailer to believe he was acting on the council’s behalf, despite knowing he was not authorised. These transactions, totalling just over N$116 000, form the basis of the fraud and money laundering charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.The alternative theft counts state that Donatus unlawfully and intentionally stole goods from Metro Cash & Carry to the same value. New Era, citing sources, reported that the items allegedly purchased included deodorant, body cream, and ice cream, which were later billed to the council.Outside the courtroom, Donatus initially questioned what charges he faced before describing the case as “a political gimmick.” He declined to comment further, saying only: “Leave me alone.”His legal representatives emphasised that his voluntary surrender to police does not imply an admission of guilt and could be considered a mitigating factor in the event of prosecution.Donatus is a member of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). The party confirmed his arrest on 22 September and issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to due process.“We affirm that every individual is entitled to due process and fair treatment within our legal system. We will be closely monitoring this situation to ensure that his constitutional rights are fully protected throughout the judicial proceedings,” the statement read.Earlier this year, Donatus was briefly at the centre of a leadership dispute within the Erongo Regional Council, where he served as chairperson for just over three months following a no-confidence vote against Benitha Imbamba. The High Court later reinstated Imbamba, a decision Donatus attributed to the Office of the Attorney General’s failure to respond on the council’s behalf.In July, Donatus confirmed that the council was aware of a police investigation into alleged unauthorised spending on its Metro Swakopmund account.

Donatus granted N$50 000 bail in credit card scandal

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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Donatus granted N$50 000 bail in credit card scandal

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Namibian Sun 2026-03-26

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