New Era staff member collapses at Board hearing

A SENIOR manager for the Government newspaper New Era collapsed on Monday after hearing the verdict in her fraud case, sources at the publication have confirmed.

Feris, who was suspended because of allegations of credit card fraud, said to involve more than N$80 000, reportedly fell ill and was carried out of the New Era offices on a stretcher. Feris could not be reached for comment.A man who answered Feris’s cellphone said she was not available.New Era’s Managing Director Protasius Ndauendapo declined to comment on the hearing, maintaining he still had to receive the report on the case.People at the newspaper said Feris, the Manager:Support Services, appeared to take the hearing in her stride until the verdict was announced and she was informed of her right to appeal.She then collapsed.A team of emergency workers was called to attend to her.It is not clear whether it was the verdict that caused her to collapse, but her health is said to have deteriorated rapidly after her suspension a couple of months ago.She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) within a week of the suspension, reportedly suffering from a stroke.Neither Feris nor any New Era official has ever shed light on her earlier collapse nor the fraud case.Feris, who was also in charge of finance, was put on leave while the company investigated allegations that she embezzled company funds using her official credit card.Feris could not be reached for comment.A man who answered Feris’s cellphone said she was not available.New Era’s Managing Director Protasius Ndauendapo declined to comment on the hearing, maintaining he still had to receive the report on the case.People at the newspaper said Feris, the Manager:Support Services, appeared to take the hearing in her stride until the verdict was announced and she was informed of her right to appeal.She then collapsed.A team of emergency workers was called to attend to her.It is not clear whether it was the verdict that caused her to collapse, but her health is said to have deteriorated rapidly after her suspension a couple of months ago.She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) within a week of the suspension, reportedly suffering from a stroke.Neither Feris nor any New Era official has ever shed light on her earlier collapse nor the fraud case.Feris, who was also in charge of finance, was put on leave while the company investigated allegations that she embezzled company funds using her official credit card.