Rebebe remains hospitalised
Nico Rebebe, a banker who allegedly stole N$2 million from his employer Bank Windhoek, has not appeared in court because he is in hospital. He had yet to be discharged yesterday.
Almost eight weeks after he disappeared, Rebebe handed himself over to the Namibian Police last week after reportedly running out of medication to manage his diabetes.
He was hospitalised upon his arrest. This was confirmed by Kunene police commander, Commissioner James Nderura.
When discharged, Rebebe is set to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate’s Court. He stands accused of allegedly stealing N$2 million on 13 January from Bank Windhoek’s Opuwo branch, where he was stationed.
Bank Windhoek initially told the police that he took N$200 million, but later said the actual amount stolen was less than N$2 million.
While both local police and Interpol were hot on his trail since his January disappearance, Rebebe allegedly sneaked back into the north-western town of Opuwo last week and went to his girlfriend’s house, from where he informed the police that he wanted to surrender.
Deny, deny, deny
A source told Namibian Sun last week that Rebebe surrendered because he ran out of diabetes medicine.
“He was immediately taken to the hospital under heavy police guard. He went there to be treated for the diabetes and to undergo other tests,” they said.
Rebebe has so far told the police that he had nothing to do with the alleged theft.
“He is denying any involvement in the theft and fraud. He is also denying that he was the one who switched off the cameras... He claims that he informed his boss of his sickness and that he was going away for treatment,” an official said.
Wild social life
Although Bank Windhoek later said Rebebe stole ‘less than’ N$2 million, about N$2.1 million was found in bank accounts of six men from Rundu, whom Rebebe allegedly tricked into opening bank accounts, where he said he would pay their salaries for farm work.
He kept their bank cards in order to ensure they had no access to the money, and then deposited huge sums into those accounts - some as high as N$500 000.
Rebebe was employed as an administrative clerk, a position which allegedly gave him advanced access to the bank’s money.
Eight people – whose bank accounts were used by Rebebe to transfer the stolen funds – have since been arrested.
Of the eight, two were arrested in Opuwo while six others were arrested in Rundu.
On the day of his disappearance, Rebebe is understood to have left the bank with a backpack containing N$500 000 in cash.
A subsequent probe uncovered his allegedly wild social life, which is suspected to have fuelled his greed.
[email protected]
Almost eight weeks after he disappeared, Rebebe handed himself over to the Namibian Police last week after reportedly running out of medication to manage his diabetes.
He was hospitalised upon his arrest. This was confirmed by Kunene police commander, Commissioner James Nderura.
When discharged, Rebebe is set to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate’s Court. He stands accused of allegedly stealing N$2 million on 13 January from Bank Windhoek’s Opuwo branch, where he was stationed.
Bank Windhoek initially told the police that he took N$200 million, but later said the actual amount stolen was less than N$2 million.
While both local police and Interpol were hot on his trail since his January disappearance, Rebebe allegedly sneaked back into the north-western town of Opuwo last week and went to his girlfriend’s house, from where he informed the police that he wanted to surrender.
Deny, deny, deny
A source told Namibian Sun last week that Rebebe surrendered because he ran out of diabetes medicine.
“He was immediately taken to the hospital under heavy police guard. He went there to be treated for the diabetes and to undergo other tests,” they said.
Rebebe has so far told the police that he had nothing to do with the alleged theft.
“He is denying any involvement in the theft and fraud. He is also denying that he was the one who switched off the cameras... He claims that he informed his boss of his sickness and that he was going away for treatment,” an official said.
Wild social life
Although Bank Windhoek later said Rebebe stole ‘less than’ N$2 million, about N$2.1 million was found in bank accounts of six men from Rundu, whom Rebebe allegedly tricked into opening bank accounts, where he said he would pay their salaries for farm work.
He kept their bank cards in order to ensure they had no access to the money, and then deposited huge sums into those accounts - some as high as N$500 000.
Rebebe was employed as an administrative clerk, a position which allegedly gave him advanced access to the bank’s money.
Eight people – whose bank accounts were used by Rebebe to transfer the stolen funds – have since been arrested.
Of the eight, two were arrested in Opuwo while six others were arrested in Rundu.
On the day of his disappearance, Rebebe is understood to have left the bank with a backpack containing N$500 000 in cash.
A subsequent probe uncovered his allegedly wild social life, which is suspected to have fuelled his greed.
[email protected]
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