Mpasi Haingura, who was in charge of the GIPF Regional Office at Rundu, was granted bail of N$4 000 at a hearing before Magistrate Francis Mukasa on Friday.

Haingura appeared in the town's Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of fraud, corruption and theft.

The case was postponed to November 24 for further investigation, a court official at Rundu said.

Court officials told The Namibian that Haingura allegedly attempted to fake the death of a cousin in order to claim a pension payout.

He was allegedly exposed when he applied for a "death certificate" for a cousin, who is alive, at the Police station.

Public Relations Officer of the GIPF, Elvis Nashilongo, said Haingura was immediately suspended after it was confirmed that criminal charges had been laid against him.

"We have zero tolerance for corruption at the GIPF," he said.

The GIPF has also launched its own investigation.

Asked if any other GIPF official was implicated, Nashilongo said no one had been - so far.

"We will have to wait for the results of the investigation to be sure," he added Haingura has been suspended with pay.

The GIPF is the biggest pension fund in Namibia, with 91 000 members, N$12 billion in funds under management and a 60 per cent share of the retirement fund market.

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