Number of suspects in SSC fraud case swells to 29

SEVEN more suspects accused of involvement in a scam involving hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars paid out by the Social Security Commission appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Yesterday’s court appearance was the third in as many days by people who face fraud and corruption charges in the wake of the discovery of the latest alleged fraud scam at the SSC. It brings to 29 the number of people charged in the case.The suspects who appeared before Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango yesterday are Willem Platt (19), Ellen Timothy Nauseb (28), Tangeni Fillemon (33), Franciskus Kaiwina (29), Petrus Goagoseb (38), Paulus Shikudule (41), and Stephanus Markgraaff (29).Like another 15 suspects who appeared before Magistrate Haikango on Tuesday, the latest seven were also granted bail of N$2 000 each and informed that their case was being postponed to January 26 next year for further investigations.With the first court appearance on Monday, the main suspect in the case, former SSC employee Maxwell Spanneberg (29), and two of his co-accused, David Engelbrecht and James Louw (39), were denied bail.According to the SSC, Spanneberg was employed in the Registry Division at the SSC’s head office in Windhoek.It is suspected that he used the computer passwords of other staff members to lodge, process and authorise fraudulent sick-leave claims, the SSC claimed in a media statement that it issued on Monday.Spanneberg was suspended from his post on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered, the SSC announced in the statement.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims amounting to around N$400 000 – this figure could however increase as the investigation into the matter progresses.These claims were allegedly paid out in the names of the people who have been charged as his co-accused.The proceeds of this scheme were then allegedly shared by Spanneberg and the other suspects.It brings to 29 the number of people charged in the case.The suspects who appeared before Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango yesterday are Willem Platt (19), Ellen Timothy Nauseb (28), Tangeni Fillemon (33), Franciskus Kaiwina (29), Petrus Goagoseb (38), Paulus Shikudule (41), and Stephanus Markgraaff (29).Like another 15 suspects who appeared before Magistrate Haikango on Tuesday, the latest seven were also granted bail of N$2 000 each and informed that their case was being postponed to January 26 next year for further investigations.With the first court appearance on Monday, the main suspect in the case, former SSC employee Maxwell Spanneberg (29), and two of his co-accused, David Engelbrecht and James Louw (39), were denied bail.According to the SSC, Spanneberg was employed in the Registry Division at the SSC’s head office in Windhoek.It is suspected that he used the computer passwords of other staff members to lodge, process and authorise fraudulent sick-leave claims, the SSC claimed in a media statement that it issued on Monday.Spanneberg was suspended from his post on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered, the SSC announced in the statement.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims amounting to around N$400 000 – this figure could however increase as the investigation into the matter progresses.These claims were allegedly paid out in the names of the people who have been charged as his co-accused.The proceeds of this scheme were then allegedly shared by Spanneberg and the other suspects.