Woman denied bail in N$5m life insurance fraud case

A 36-year-old woman appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court on Wednesday in connection with an alleged scheme in which deaths were faked to claim insurance payouts.

Operi Zamuee was denied bail and remains in custody. The case was postponed to 8 September for further investigation.

According to a warrant of detention issued by the court, Zamuee was charged with fraud, forgery and uttering a forged instrument, as well as money laundering in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2004.

It is alleged that multiple life insurance and funeral policies were taken out before false death claims were submitted to Old Mutual Namibia over several years. The alleged fraud resulted in an actual loss of more than N$5 million, with a further N$1.8 million in attempted claims.

A second suspect appeared in the same court on 30 June, and police have indicated that further arrests are expected.

The police investigation continues.