Disability grant scam unearthed in Kavango West
Kenya Kambowe
RUNDU
The Namibian police in the Kavango West Region have unearthed a scam involving a civil servant accused of defrauding the taxpayer-funded disability grant programme, which is intended to sustain vulnerable members of society.
State nurse Danny Kemba Kouyuni (37) is facing fraud and corruption charges after allegedly forging documents for people to illegally benefit from government social grants in return for money.
According to the police, Kouyuni and an accomplice, Hausiku Gerson Kankono (48), who is an alleged beneficiary of a grant through corrupt means, are the ringleaders of the scheme.
The two, who have been were arrested by the police, appeared before acting magistrate George Matsuib in the Kahenge Periodic Court last week.
They were both denied bail and the matter was remanded to 12 August for further investigation.
The plot
According to the police report, it is alleged that Kouyoni used his position as a nurse at the Nankudu District Hospital to forge doctors’ signatures on government grant application forms, which are then forwarded to the gender and social welfare ministry for approval.
The suspect registered individuals who have no physical or mental disabilities in order to receive disability grants from the gender ministry, the police report read.
“Many individuals are currently receiving government disability grants while they have no physical or mental disabilities. The suspects received money and other materials as a compensation from the applicants/beneficiaries for his own use.”
Kavango West police commander, Commissioner Josephat Abel, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the probe is ongoing.
Abel added that more arrests are expected as it is unclear how many people have benefitted and how long the alleged crime has been going on.
“We will determine all the answers once the investigations are completed,” he said.
Namibian Sun understands officials from the gender ministry in the region are among those who face arrest in the matter.
[email protected]
RUNDU
The Namibian police in the Kavango West Region have unearthed a scam involving a civil servant accused of defrauding the taxpayer-funded disability grant programme, which is intended to sustain vulnerable members of society.
State nurse Danny Kemba Kouyuni (37) is facing fraud and corruption charges after allegedly forging documents for people to illegally benefit from government social grants in return for money.
According to the police, Kouyuni and an accomplice, Hausiku Gerson Kankono (48), who is an alleged beneficiary of a grant through corrupt means, are the ringleaders of the scheme.
The two, who have been were arrested by the police, appeared before acting magistrate George Matsuib in the Kahenge Periodic Court last week.
They were both denied bail and the matter was remanded to 12 August for further investigation.
The plot
According to the police report, it is alleged that Kouyoni used his position as a nurse at the Nankudu District Hospital to forge doctors’ signatures on government grant application forms, which are then forwarded to the gender and social welfare ministry for approval.
The suspect registered individuals who have no physical or mental disabilities in order to receive disability grants from the gender ministry, the police report read.
“Many individuals are currently receiving government disability grants while they have no physical or mental disabilities. The suspects received money and other materials as a compensation from the applicants/beneficiaries for his own use.”
Kavango West police commander, Commissioner Josephat Abel, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the probe is ongoing.
Abel added that more arrests are expected as it is unclear how many people have benefitted and how long the alleged crime has been going on.
“We will determine all the answers once the investigations are completed,” he said.
Namibian Sun understands officials from the gender ministry in the region are among those who face arrest in the matter.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article