Man accused of staging crash to defraud insurer freed on N$10 000 bail

A 39-year-old Ongwediva man arrested for allegedly damaging his own vehicle to defraud an insurance company has been released on N$10 000 bail. Sheetekela Mateus appeared in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where his case was postponed to 20 August 2026 for further investigation. Police said Mateus reported an accident involving his Volkswagen Polo on 24 December 2025, claiming he swerved off the road after being blinded by headlights. Investigations, including CCTV footage, allegedly show he deliberately drove into a tree twice. The incident was reported hours later, after the vehicle had been removed.