A nampost employee allegedly helped open fraudulent bank accounts using forged identity documents, facilitating the theft of over N$2.2 million from a savings policy.
The state is alleging that Sackaria Moongo (43) has played a key role in facilitating the theft from a Momentum Metropolitan savings policy.
Moongo and his co-accused Wilbard Antsino and Daniel Kashima are now seeking bail, following their arrest in May.
They are facing charges of fraud, forgery and theft.
During the bail application in the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira accused Moongo of enabling the scheme that allegedly resulted in N$2.2 million being stolen from the savings policy of Andalberd Shilongo (49).
According to the state, the money was fraudulently transferred from Shilongo’s Momentum Metropolitan savings policy into a NamPost account that had been opened using a forged national identity (ID) card.
The fraudulent ID document allegedly contained Shilongo’s personal details but displayed the photograph of Antsino.
The account was opened early this year. Kangira told the court that Moongo assisted in making photocopies of the forged ID document, thereby facilitating the opening of the account.
“Had it not been for you inside NamPost, this NamPost account would not have been opened,” Kangira submitted.
Moongo admitted making photocopies of the ID document, but denied any knowledge that it was fraudulent.
He testified that he acted on the instructions of his colleague, Phillip Angula.
“I did not know who the ID card belonged to. I also did not read it. I got it from my colleague Phillip Angula, who should have looked at it,” Moongo told the court.
The prosecutor, however, argued that Moongo deliberately copied the forged document to conceal its fraudulent nature and alleged that the state possesses a sworn statement from Angula claiming that Moongo brought the individual who opened the account to him and personally made copies of the ID document.
Moongo rejected the allegation, maintaining that Angula had instructed him to make the copies.
He further testified that while heading for his tea break, he was approached by Antsino, who was outside the post office with another individual seeking assistance to open an account.
“I took them to Angula, who assisted them with opening the account.
It was also not the first time I had taken a client to Angula,” he said.
Kangira said Moongo paid Angula N$1 000 for opening the account and promised him an additional N$10 000.
The state further alleges that after the stolen funds were deposited into the first NamPost account opened in Shilongo’s name, N$480 000 was transferred to a second NamPost account, which was allegedly opened with Moongo’s assistance.
That account was reportedly registered in the name of Amakali Tangeni, but allegedly also bore Antsino’s photograph.
Kangira told the court that Moongo, Antsino and Kashima all had access to the fraudulent account.
According to the prosecution, N$2 million of the stolen funds was spent within a short period.
Only N$200 000 remains after the prosecutor general successfully obtained a High Court preservation order over the remaining funds.
Court documents suggest that part of the money was used to buy three vehicles – one of which is a white Mercedes-Benz C200 belonging to Kashima, which the state later seized.
The vehicle is reportedly registered under a close corporation linked to a third party. The bail application was postponed to 24 and 25 August.
