SSC fraud suspects up to 40

A FURTHER seven arrests yesterday brought to 40 the number of people accused of having played a part in an alleged fraud and corruption scheme uncovered at the Social Security Commission almost three months ago.

Thirty-three suspects have already appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura in connection with allegations that they were involved in the fraudulent lodging of claims with the SSC and the processing and paying out of those claims by the SSC. According to the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Erna van der Merwe, another seven suspects were arrested yesterday, the news agency Nampa has reported.They are due to appear in court today, Van der Merwe was reported as saying.The court appearance of four other suspects on Friday swelled the ranks of the people charged in connection with the case to 33.The four who were arrested on Thursday are Doron Claasen (21), Jan Hendrik Jacobs (35), Vincent Muundjua (25) and Cornelius Shifeleni (40).Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango granted each of them bail of N$2 000 and cautioned them to appear in court again on January 26 next year.Earlier last week, another 29 suspects appeared before Magistrate Haikango on charges of fraud and corruption.The first of these three batches of suspects to appear included Maxwell Elrico Spanneberg, a 29-year-old former SSC employee who is accused of having been a key figure in the alleged scheme.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.Spanneberg was suspended from his post on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated on Monday last week.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims totalling hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars and that these claims were then 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.According to SSC public relations officer Rino Muranda, the alleged scam had cost the SSC N$340 000, Nampa also reported yesterday.Spanneberg has not been granted bail.He and two of his co-accused, David Engelbrecht and James Louw, were ordered to remain in custody when their case was postponed to January 26 on Monday last week.* Additional reporting by NampaAccording to the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Erna van der Merwe, another seven suspects were arrested yesterday, the news agency Nampa has reported.They are due to appear in court today, Van der Merwe was reported as saying.The court appearance of four other suspects on Friday swelled the ranks of the people charged in connection with the case to 33. The four who were arrested on Thursday are Doron Claasen (21), Jan Hendrik Jacobs (35), Vincent Muundjua (25) and Cornelius Shifeleni (40).Magistrate Tuyenikelao Haikango granted each of them bail of N$2 000 and cautioned them to appear in court again on January 26 next year.Earlier last week, another 29 suspects appeared before Magistrate Haikango on charges of fraud and corruption.The first of these three batches of suspects to appear included Maxwell Elrico Spanneberg, a 29-year-old former SSC employee who is accused of having been a key figure in the alleged scheme.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.Spanneberg was suspended from his post on August 30, when a full-scale investigation of his alleged activities was ordered.He was dismissed on November 2, after he had been found guilty of misconduct following a disciplinary hearing, the SSC stated on Monday last week.It is suspected that Spanneberg used his position at the SSC to process false claims totalling hundreds of thousands of Namibia dollars and that these claims were then 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.According to SSC public relations officer Rino Muranda, the alleged scam had cost the SSC N$340 000, Nampa also reported yesterday.Spanneberg has not been granted bail.He and two of his co-accused, David Engelbrecht and James Louw, were ordered to remain in custody when their case was postponed to January 26 on Monday last week.* Additional reporting by Nampa