Alleged N$5m fraudster granted bail
A 21-year-old man accused of defrauding a Windhoek woman of more than N$5 million was granted bail during his second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.
Nghiiwa Nghidipohamba, a student based in the north, appeared before magistrate Olga Muharukua on 7 May.
State prosecutor Rowan van Wyk told the court last week that he had not yet received the student’s docket from the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court, where the accused first appeared.
“The accused previously appeared on a transfer charge sheet. As the docket is not before this court, I am unable to state at this point which court has jurisdiction. The State needs time to determine that,” Van Wyk said.
Nghidipohamba was ordered to report to the Ondangwa Police Station twice every Monday – at 08:00 and again at 17:00 – pending his next appearance in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court on 20 June.
Court records also indicate that no further arrests have been made in connection with the case.
Police investigation
According to a previous Namibian Sun report, the student is accused of fraudulently obtaining personal banking information from the victim, Lydia Bauman, by impersonating a Bank Windhoek employee on 13 April.
The charge sheet accuses Nghidipohamba of falsely representing himself and persuading Bauman to share sensitive financial details, resulting in a loss of N$5 067 449.12.
Oshana regional police commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria confirmed to Namibian Sun at the time that a suspected syndicate of scammers had allegedly transferred N$180 000 into the suspect's bank account.
“He went to the bank to activate an app that would allow him to access the funds, and that’s when the police were alerted and responded swiftly. It appears a substantial amount of money was stolen and distributed in smaller amounts to various individuals to make the transactions more difficult to trace," the commissioner said.
"This is a common tactic – some recipients receive the money unknowingly, while others are fully aware they are handling illicit funds,” he added.
The State has argued that Nghidipohamba acted with the intent to defraud and was fully aware that the information he provided was false.
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Nghiiwa Nghidipohamba, a student based in the north, appeared before magistrate Olga Muharukua on 7 May.
State prosecutor Rowan van Wyk told the court last week that he had not yet received the student’s docket from the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court, where the accused first appeared.
“The accused previously appeared on a transfer charge sheet. As the docket is not before this court, I am unable to state at this point which court has jurisdiction. The State needs time to determine that,” Van Wyk said.
Nghidipohamba was ordered to report to the Ondangwa Police Station twice every Monday – at 08:00 and again at 17:00 – pending his next appearance in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court on 20 June.
Court records also indicate that no further arrests have been made in connection with the case.
Police investigation
According to a previous Namibian Sun report, the student is accused of fraudulently obtaining personal banking information from the victim, Lydia Bauman, by impersonating a Bank Windhoek employee on 13 April.
The charge sheet accuses Nghidipohamba of falsely representing himself and persuading Bauman to share sensitive financial details, resulting in a loss of N$5 067 449.12.
Oshana regional police commander Commissioner Naftal Lungameni Sakaria confirmed to Namibian Sun at the time that a suspected syndicate of scammers had allegedly transferred N$180 000 into the suspect's bank account.
“He went to the bank to activate an app that would allow him to access the funds, and that’s when the police were alerted and responded swiftly. It appears a substantial amount of money was stolen and distributed in smaller amounts to various individuals to make the transactions more difficult to trace," the commissioner said.
"This is a common tactic – some recipients receive the money unknowingly, while others are fully aware they are handling illicit funds,” he added.
The State has argued that Nghidipohamba acted with the intent to defraud and was fully aware that the information he provided was false.
[email protected]
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