Kapofi ‘swindler’ finally arrested
Wanted man found ‘hiding’ at granny’s house
The tech-savvy businessman has been on the run since police started looking for him over N$200 000 allegedly swindled from the defence minister.
Police yesterday arrested small-time businessman Owen Nawa Mahoto, who allegedly swindled defence minister and erstwhile Swapo vice-president candidate Frans Kapofi out of N$200 000.
He was also wanted in connection with allegedly serving a Windhoek guest house with a fake proof of payment after racking up bills amounting to about N$22 000.
Police have been looking for him since mid-September, after Kapofi confirmed he lost the money after confirming his banking details with a man, who police suspected was Mahoto.
“He was hiding at his grandmother’s house in Khomasdal,” a police source told Namibian Sun.
Mahoto, who co-owns Omig Technology Systems, faces two charges of fraud, emanating from the two separate incidents.
In September, police issued a public notice requesting anyone who knows Mahoto's whereabouts to come forward with information. It was not until yesterday – more than a month later – that a breakthrough was made in arresting him.
Scammed
Confirming his ordeal to The Namibian last month, Kapofi said: “What happened is that the person called me, saying: 'Mr Kapofi, did you give permission to someone to withdraw money from your account?”
“He said he wanted to stop the [unauthorised] process. Then he started [reading out] my account number and branch number, so I confirmed. Then he just took my money.”
At the time, Mahoto told the English daily that both he and the defence minister were victims of the same scam.
“I only discovered from 25 August, when I was expecting my salary, that my account was deactivated. I then called the bank to find out from my private banker what was going on.
“After following up on a Monday, I learnt fraud was committed on my account, and I asked for an explanation from the bank. They told me they were conducting an investigation.
“Later on, I saw the police were also involved,” he was quoted as saying.
The tech-savvy businessman, who hails from the Zambezi Region, is scheduled to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today.
He was also wanted in connection with allegedly serving a Windhoek guest house with a fake proof of payment after racking up bills amounting to about N$22 000.
Police have been looking for him since mid-September, after Kapofi confirmed he lost the money after confirming his banking details with a man, who police suspected was Mahoto.
“He was hiding at his grandmother’s house in Khomasdal,” a police source told Namibian Sun.
Mahoto, who co-owns Omig Technology Systems, faces two charges of fraud, emanating from the two separate incidents.
In September, police issued a public notice requesting anyone who knows Mahoto's whereabouts to come forward with information. It was not until yesterday – more than a month later – that a breakthrough was made in arresting him.
Scammed
Confirming his ordeal to The Namibian last month, Kapofi said: “What happened is that the person called me, saying: 'Mr Kapofi, did you give permission to someone to withdraw money from your account?”
“He said he wanted to stop the [unauthorised] process. Then he started [reading out] my account number and branch number, so I confirmed. Then he just took my money.”
At the time, Mahoto told the English daily that both he and the defence minister were victims of the same scam.
“I only discovered from 25 August, when I was expecting my salary, that my account was deactivated. I then called the bank to find out from my private banker what was going on.
“After following up on a Monday, I learnt fraud was committed on my account, and I asked for an explanation from the bank. They told me they were conducting an investigation.
“Later on, I saw the police were also involved,” he was quoted as saying.
The tech-savvy businessman, who hails from the Zambezi Region, is scheduled to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article