Africa-Press – Namibia. TWO employees of the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) are being held in custody after appearing in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on a fraud charge involving N$17,8 million yesterday.
The two employees of the fund, Martin Eugen Smith (34) and Fabiola Shirley Aoses (44), made their first court appearance before magistrate Desire Kamboua on a charge of fraud, alternatively theft.
Smith and Aoses were arrested on Monday.
The state is alleging they defrauded the GIPF by creating the impression that they were entitled to have a total amount of about N$17,8 million paid out by the fund.
In the alternative charge they are facing, the state is alleging they stole about N$17,8 million from the GIPF.
GIPF spokesperson Edwin Tjiramba said yesterday that Smith and Aoses are administrative employees in the GIPF’s annuity department.
They have been suspended by the fund, he added.
Tjiramba said the GIPF is carrying out “a very intensive investigation” into the alleged fraud or theft.
The amount of money involved in the matter is still to be finally established, he said.
The magistrate directed that Smith and Aoses should remain in custody after public prosecutor Rowan van Wyk informed her that the state is opposed to the granting of bail to them at this stage.
Van Wyk said the investigation of the case was still at an early stage and the state feared the investigation could be interfered with if bail was granted now.
He said it would not be in the public interest or the interest of the administration of justice to release the two accused on bail.
More suspects could be arrested as the investigation progressed, Van Wyk said.
Kamboua postponed the case to 8 November for further investigation.
Defence lawyer Marvin Katuvesirauina represented Smith and Aoses.
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