Three arrested for extortion
Three men have been charged in an extortion scam involving more than N$300 000.
A racketeering and extortion scam already involving more than N$300 000 has been uncovered, with three people arrested, while a fourth suspect is still at large.
The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday described the scam as a well-organised criminal extortion racket and said that they suspect that more members of the public are likely to have fallen prey to this scam.
According to the anti-graft agency, the scam was perpetrated by several individuals who made contact with a businessman under the pretext that he was as a contractor placed on a list and selected to perform certain construction work.
The businessman met with a person who pretended to be an employee from the Ministry of Works and Transport and told the man that he had to show his appreciation for being added to the list and pay an amount of N$2 000.
After this amount was paid the businessman was approached by two black men and one white male.
According to the ACC, these men arrived in a green Mercedes-Benz sedan and introduced themselves as officials from the ACC and officers of the police.
The businessman was then 'arrested' and taken to the Katutura police station. Two of the 'police officers' then entered the police station while the businessman and the other 'police officer' remained in the vehicle.
This 'police officer' then extorted an amount of N$300 000 from the businessman and the cash was withdrawn by the businessman's son and handed over.
Following an investigation, three suspects were arrested and appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court between 7 and 12 June.
A fourth is still at large.
The case was remanded to 27 July and all three suspects remain in custody pending further investigations.
The suspects arrested are 52-year-old Adrian Schickerling, who is also known as 'Boy' Schickerling, Isaskar Lourens Aebeb and Michael Tangeni Mureko.
They were arrested for falsely pretending to be an authorised officer, for contraventions of the Police Act and for racketeering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (some of the accused have similar previous pending cases) and extortion.
The ACC said that the accused are not authorised officers of the ACC or from police.
“The commission suspects that they may have extorted cash from other members of the public.”
If so, investigator Werner Nghashikuao of the ACC can be contacted at 081 258 2387 or 067 302731 (Otjiwarongo) or chief investigator Justine Kanyangela at 081 127 7486 or (061) 435 4000.
The ACC further warned the public to avoid getting involved in scams such as these and to not make payments that can compromise them.
The identity of any authorised officials of the ACC can be verified with Nelius Becker, the head of investigations and prosecution at the ACC 081 129 9215 or 061 435 4000.
ELLANIE SMIT
The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday described the scam as a well-organised criminal extortion racket and said that they suspect that more members of the public are likely to have fallen prey to this scam.
According to the anti-graft agency, the scam was perpetrated by several individuals who made contact with a businessman under the pretext that he was as a contractor placed on a list and selected to perform certain construction work.
The businessman met with a person who pretended to be an employee from the Ministry of Works and Transport and told the man that he had to show his appreciation for being added to the list and pay an amount of N$2 000.
After this amount was paid the businessman was approached by two black men and one white male.
According to the ACC, these men arrived in a green Mercedes-Benz sedan and introduced themselves as officials from the ACC and officers of the police.
The businessman was then 'arrested' and taken to the Katutura police station. Two of the 'police officers' then entered the police station while the businessman and the other 'police officer' remained in the vehicle.
This 'police officer' then extorted an amount of N$300 000 from the businessman and the cash was withdrawn by the businessman's son and handed over.
Following an investigation, three suspects were arrested and appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court between 7 and 12 June.
A fourth is still at large.
The case was remanded to 27 July and all three suspects remain in custody pending further investigations.
The suspects arrested are 52-year-old Adrian Schickerling, who is also known as 'Boy' Schickerling, Isaskar Lourens Aebeb and Michael Tangeni Mureko.
They were arrested for falsely pretending to be an authorised officer, for contraventions of the Police Act and for racketeering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (some of the accused have similar previous pending cases) and extortion.
The ACC said that the accused are not authorised officers of the ACC or from police.
“The commission suspects that they may have extorted cash from other members of the public.”
If so, investigator Werner Nghashikuao of the ACC can be contacted at 081 258 2387 or 067 302731 (Otjiwarongo) or chief investigator Justine Kanyangela at 081 127 7486 or (061) 435 4000.
The ACC further warned the public to avoid getting involved in scams such as these and to not make payments that can compromise them.
The identity of any authorised officials of the ACC can be verified with Nelius Becker, the head of investigations and prosecution at the ACC 081 129 9215 or 061 435 4000.
ELLANIE SMIT
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