Amwaalwa denies links to alleged Sanlam fraud syndicate

Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa, who is applying for bail at the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court, has denied knowing alleged Sanlam fraud kingpin Abner Mateus or being involved in any fraudulent insurance claims linked to him.

During the second day of his bail hearing, Amwaalwa rejected state allegations that Mateus recruited him to facilitate fraudulent Sanlam Namibia claims, including an alleged N$1.2m payout involving Klaudia Martin.

State prosecutor Erastus Kristiana told the court that Mateus allegedly employed Amwaalwa to process fraudulent claims for several individuals.

“I do not know him. I strongly dispute that. I have never met him prior to this case, and I have never seen any of his claims,” Amwaalwa testified.

Kristiana, however, put it to Amwaalwa that he had worked closely with Mateus before allegedly recruiting others into the scheme. “I put it to you that you worked with him. You were recruited by him before you branched out to recruit your own people in defrauding Sanlam,” the prosecutor said.

The state further argued that Amwaalwa’s denial of knowing Mateus formed part of a “well-calculated plan”.

Amwaalwa maintained that he only met Mateus after their arrests in the Sanlam fraud investigation, which the state alleges is linked to claims amounting to about N$1.9m.

The broader case has also surfaced in investigations linked to the murder of former control prosecutor Justine Shiweda, with Mateus repeatedly named by investigators as a central figure in both matters.

Amwaalwa further denied any knowledge of the disputed claims and rejected allegations that a vehicle he purchased for N$18 000 was bought using proceeds of the alleged fraud.

He is defending himself in the bail hearing, which began on Monday.

Magistrate Boraface Konga is presiding over the matter.

Five other suspects are also applying for bail alongside Amwaalwa: Albertina Simeon, Getrude Iipinge, Malawian national Dr Carlos Varela Gomes, Onandjokwe intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo and Michael Kaviu.