Doctor’s ‘gang ties’ scrutinised in dock

The Oshana police have opposed bail for Ondangwa-based medical doctor Fillemon Nakanduungile (39), alleging that he attempted to bribe a complainant in a fraud case involving suspected gang leader Abner Mateus.

Detective chief inspector Antonius Gabriel told the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Friday that the bribe money was intended to persuade the complainant in a 2022 fraud case at Onayena to withdraw the matter.

“The money was meant to persuade the complainant to withdraw the case,” Gabriel said.

The matter has prevented Mateus from obtaining bail.

Nakanduungile is seeking bail following his arrest on 25 November last year.

Gabriel also linked Nakanduungile to an attempted murder case involving Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda on 17 October 2025.

Mateus is accused of orchestrating the shooting and acid attack on the prosecutor while in custody.

Gabriel also testified that cellphone records showed that Mateus spoke to Nakanduungile approximately 20 minutes before the attack on Shiweda.

Shiweda remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit, suffering multiple organ failure due to the acid attack.

Gabriel also told the court that Nakanduungile received funds that were part of N$1.2 million fraudulently claimed from Sanlam Namibia in 2020.

He said Mateus allegedly orchestrated the fraud through an associate, called Claudia, who submitted a false sickness claim to Sanlam on Mateus’ instructions.

“There was no real sickness. A diagnosis report was manipulated into a sickness claim, which was successful,” Gabriel said.

Once the claim was paid, Mateus allegedly instructed Claudia to distribute the money to various individuals.

Gabriel told the court that N$200 000 was deposited into the bank account of Nakanduungile’s daughter, Maria, while N$400 000 was transferred to Mateus’ cousin, Israel Shikongo.

Gabriel could not recall the name of a fourth individual who also received part of the money.

He further testified that Nakanduungile paid N$400 000 as a deposit in a civil matter in which he was being sued by a Windhoek-based doctor.

Gabriel said Nakanduungile allegedly withdrew part of the money and handed it over to another person.

When investigators contacted Maria’s mother Martha Elifas to clarify the transactions, she never appeared, despite promising to come with a lawyer, Gabriel said.

Gabriel also told the court that Mateus had sometimes received medical treatment from Nakanduungile’s private practice Moonlight Medical Practice while in custody.

He claimed that Mateus received preferential treatment from law enforcement as he was taken to Nakanduungile’s private practice while other inmates were taken to Onandjokwe intermediate hospitals.

He said the police could not get hold of Mateus’ medical report as by the time the police obtained a search warrant from the court, everything was already removed from the clinic.

“They were removed by his younger brother,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel also told the court on 22 October 2025, Nakanduungile and his young brother left Namibia for Angola and returned the same day, but their passports showed an entry stamp dated 25 October.

The two were arrested at Okapalelona in the Omusati region after crossing into Namibia through an ungazetted entry point.

“Immigration authorities are investigating possible corruption related to this border crossing,” he said.

The court also heard that during the Covid-19 period, while Nakanduungile worked at Onandjokwe State Hospital, he replaced local patients scheduled for surgery with Angolan patients who paid him directly.

Gabriel opposed Nakanduungile’s bail, arguing that he poses a flight risk and could abscond, citing ex-fugitive Lazarus Shaduka and businessman Victor Malima, who remain at large.

Malima is wanted in the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia vs Enercon matter.

The bail hearing is expected to continue later this week with cross-examination by the defence.

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