THE number of suspects implicated in the latest alleged fraud scam unearthed at the Social Security Commission almost a month ago rose to 53 this week.
The 52nd and 53rd persons to be arrested, Jacques Alex Oosthuizen (36) and Leonard Abraham (44), appeared on charges of fraud and corruption in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura on Tuesday. They were each granted bail of N$2 000, and have to make a second court appearance with their co-accused on January 26.Oosthuizen and Abraham have been joined to the case in which a former SSC employee, Maxwell Elrico Spanneberg, is the first accused.The 29-year-old Spanneberg is accused of having been a key figure in the alleged fraud scheme.According to the SSC, Spanneberg was employed in the Registry Division at the SSC’s head office in Windhoek.It is suspected that he used the computer passwords of other staff members to lodge, process and authorise fraudulent sick-leave claims.Spanneberg was suspended on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated last month.On November 13, he appeared in court for the first time in connection with the case.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims totalling hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars and that these claims were then paid out in the names of the people who have been charged as his co-accused.The proceeds of this scheme were then allegedly shared by Spanneberg and the other suspects.It is suspected that the SSC was defrauded of some N$344 000 as a result of the scam, the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is investigating the case, said yesterday.Own Reporter-NampaThey were each granted bail of N$2 000, and have to make a second court appearance with their co-accused on January 26.Oosthuizen and Abraham have been joined to the case in which a former SSC employee, Maxwell Elrico Spanneberg, is the first accused.The 29-year-old Spanneberg is accused of having been a key figure in the alleged fraud scheme.According to the SSC, Spanneberg was employed in the Registry Division at the SSC’s head office in Windhoek.It is suspected that he used the computer passwords of other staff members to lodge, process and authorise fraudulent sick-leave claims.Spanneberg was suspended on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated last month. On November 13, he appeared in court for the first time in connection with the case.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims totalling hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars and that these claims were then paid out in the names of the people who have been charged as his co-accused.The proceeds of this scheme were then allegedly shared by Spanneberg and the other suspects.It is suspected that the SSC was defrauded of some N$344 000 as a result of the scam, the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, which is investigating the case, said yesterday.Own Reporter-Nampa
