Ex-Swakop municipal worker jailed

A FORMER assistant to the building inspector of the Swakopmund Municipality, Chadrat Mbuuru, was sent to prison on Tuesday for fraud.

During the course of 2005, Mbuuru, who was working in the department where building plans are approved, defrauded 21 clients of N$15 938 over an extended period.
Swakopmund Magistrate Benhardt Tjatjara sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment of which one year was suspended.
Mbuuru will also have to pay back the money, which has not been recovered, to the Swakopmund Municipality by August 31.
In his admission of guilt, Mbuuru stated that during 2005, he intentionally defrauded 21 clients on separate occasions by hoodwinking them to pay him cash sums ranging between N$100 and N$1 500 for the approval of building plans. He would then issue receipts that did not correspond with the correct erf number.
He admitted that he knew the applicants were not supposed to pay for the approval of the plans.
In mitigation of sentence, Mbuuru’s attorney, C Schroeder said her client was an alcoholic, hence irresponsible, and that is why he resorted to such dishonest behaviour.
Tjatjara said in his judgment that fraud at the workplace was a crime that struck at the roots of a decent and honourable public administration.
‘No departure from the strictest standards of honest and integrity can be tolerated,’ he said.