Ondangwa doctors, nurses implicated in N$1.9m Sanlam fake medical insurance fraud

Two doctors, along with several nurses, teachers, intern doctors and health ministry officials, are among those implicated in a N$1.9 million fake medical insurance claim from Sanlam between 2020 and 2024.

Twelve of the accused, including two medical doctors, appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to public prosecutor Yeukai Kangira, the accused claimed money from the insurance company under the pretence that they had been diagnosed with certain medical conditions or had been hospitalised, and were, therefore, entitled to payouts they allegedly falsely claimed.

One of the accused is Ondangwa-based doctor Fillemon Nakanduungile, who is charged with the murder of Ondangwa control prosecutor Justine Shiweda.

The other arrested doctor is Malawian national Dr Varela Gomes, who was apprehended on Saturday at the Mohembo border post in the Kavango East region, while allegedly attempting to leave Namibia via Botswana.

Gomes faces charges of fraud under the doctrine of common purpose, fraud, and violations of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Among those who allegedly made claims is Claudia Martin, who reportedly claimed about N$1.2 million. The police say Martin is linked to Abner Mateus, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the attack on Shiweda.

The police further say N$200 000 of the N$1.2 million was transferred into Nakanduungile’s personal account.

N$400 000 was allegedly sent to Mateus’ cousin, Israel Shikongo, while N$190 000 remained with Martin.

N$80 000 of the N$200 000 sent to Nakanduungile was allegedly deposited into Nakanduungile’s three-year-old daughter’s First National Bank account, the police say.

N$400 000, possibly from Shikongo, was reportedly paid to a Windhoek-based doctor who controls the building where Nakanduungile’s practice used to rent space.

Mateus himself is accused of claiming N$125 000 following his alleged false hospitalisation at Onandjokwe State Hospital.

His co-accused, Petrus Shikwaya, allegedly claimed N$154 000 after falsely claiming to have been hospitalised at the same hospital.

A teacher, Hendrina Shooya, allegedly claimed N$47 200, Martha Kalunde received N$62 000, and another accused, Festus Amaalwa, allegedly claimed N$10 000.

“Mr Abner Mateus was never hospitalised at Onandjokwe State Hospital at the time,” the prosecutor said.

Kangira further stated that intern doctors and state nurses were involved in facilitating the fraud by providing fake medical results and using official date stamps.

Julia Shambo is accused of stealing a date stamp from Oshakati Intermediate Hospital, which was allegedly used to stamp some documents that were submitted to fraudulently obtain the money.

The accused include Festus Hamwaalwa (36), Shikongo (33), Kelsey Kudumo (33), Ottilie Johannes (33) and Josua Katsilwa (36).

Others are Shambo (40), Nakanduungile (36) and Petrus Shikwaya (21).

Shikwaya is also linked to the murder of prosecutor Shiweda.

All the accused who are not linked to Shiweda’s death were granted bail of N$25 000. Their case was postponed to 17 September for further police investigations.

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