Computer theft paralyses Omaruru

OPERATIONS at the Omaruru Municipality ground to a halt on Monday after burglars stole a computer containing all information on municipal accounts.

A computer used to process NaTIS car registrations was also stolen – and N$3 400 in cash. The Namibian established that a team of Police investigators visited the town on Monday and yesterday to do a forensic investigation, but the Municipality was mum on the issue.Sources at the town said the break-in, which paralysed the entire computer network, came a few days after a municipal cheque issued to NamPost for bulk postage bounced.”Statements for rates and taxes arrived later and when we inquired we were told that the postage cheque had bounced because the Municipality had no money.They bought the stamps individually and sent the accounts one by one,” said one resident.Because of the theft of the main server in its computer network, the Council now has no record of the state of Omaruru’s finances.It was alleged that the burglar alarm was armed when the break-in took place.By yesterday afternoon, most of the Town Councillors had not been formally briefed on the incident by the municipality.When contacted for comment, acting Town Clerk Frans !Gaoseb said he does not communicate with journalists.Local Police and other municipal staff had referred the newspaper to him for official comment.The Ministry of Local Government recently did a “surprise audit” at the Omaruru Municipality.The report has since been handed over to the Town Council, but has yet to be made public or debated.However, the Council recently decided to appoint an auditors’ firm to do another forensic audit.The computer theft has thrown a spanner into the works though – no financial records remain to be audited.The Namibian established that a team of Police investigators visited the town on Monday and yesterday to do a forensic investigation, but the Municipality was mum on the issue.Sources at the town said the break-in, which paralysed the entire computer network, came a few days after a municipal cheque issued to NamPost for bulk postage bounced.”Statements for rates and taxes arrived later and when we inquired we were told that the postage cheque had bounced because the Municipality had no money.They bought the stamps individually and sent the accounts one by one,” said one resident.Because of the theft of the main server in its computer network, the Council now has no record of the state of Omaruru’s finances.It was alleged that the burglar alarm was armed when the break-in took place.By yesterday afternoon, most of the Town Councillors had not been formally briefed on the incident by the municipality.When contacted for comment, acting Town Clerk Frans !Gaoseb said he does not communicate with journalists.Local Police and other municipal staff had referred the newspaper to him for official comment.The Ministry of Local Government recently did a “surprise audit” at the Omaruru Municipality.The report has since been handed over to the Town Council, but has yet to be made public or debated.However, the Council recently decided to appoint an auditors’ firm to do another forensic audit.The computer theft has thrown a spanner into the works though – no financial records remain to be audited.