Namfisa investigator attacked at home

A CENTRAL figure in the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities at Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa), forensic computer expert Wayne Phillips, survived an attempt on his life late Tuesday night when three men assaulted him in his Olympia home.

They left him for dead before escaping with a laptop computer containing alleged crucial information to the Namfisa insider dealings.
Phillips, who was hired by former Namfisa Chief Executive Officer, Rainer Ritter to investigate alleged insider dealings at the financial regulator, suffered a broken skull, five broken ribs and eye damage.
Sources close to the investigation described a scene of complete disarray in Phillips’s study at his home in Olympia, with blood spattered on the walls and furniture.
His life appeared to have been saved by the fact that his wife, who is a medical doctor, discovered his unconscious body and stabilised his condition before moving him to the Medi-Clinic hospital.
Phillips is currently out of danger and recuperating at the hospital under armed guard. He is believed to have inflicted some damage on his attackers as well, as the knuckles of both his hands were injured in the attack.
The motive for the attack appears to have been a laptop computer containing information from an investigation he had done on behalf of Ritter at Namfisa’s offices late in 2008.
Two other computers were left untouched by the attackers, who had gained access to his property by forcing open the security gates to his property.
The Police confirmed they were investigating charges of attempted murder, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and robbery.
* John Grobler is a freelance journalist