Judgment reserved for Netumbo imposter
• State opposes bail
Immanuel Nowaseb pretended to be Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's representative ahead of the 2022 Swapo congress and managed to solicit N$2.5 million from a Walvis Bay businessman.
Judgment has been reserved in the bail application of fraud suspect Immanuel Nowaseb (40), who allegedly siphoned N$2.5 million from a Walvis Bay-based businessman by pretending to be a representative of Swapo Party vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Nowaseb, who received the money from businessman Jose Luis Bastos between November 2022 and January 2023, faces 15 counts of fraud and, alternatively, money laundering.
He pretended to be Nandi-Ndaitwah’s representative ahead of the 2022 Swapo congress and managed to solicit N$2.5 million from the businessman, who was allegedly approached to contribute money to Nandi-Ndaitwah’s campaign.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is also Namibia’s deputy prime minister.
A case of fraud, alternatively theft by false pretences, and money laundering was opened against him on 1 February.
Nowaseb approached the court with his bail application six months after his arrest.
State opposes bail
State prosecutor Maggy Shiyagaya opposed bail and relied on the investigating officer’s statement to do so.
Detective chief inspector Fenni Kalimbo told the court Nowaseb allegedly created a business profile under Nandi-Ndaitwah’s name.
"Files and audio were discovered from the accused person's phone after it was sent to the lab for forensic analysis," he said, adding that Nowaseb should not be granted bail due to the seriousness of the case.
"Nowaseb impersonated the deputy prime minister and vice-president of Swapo. He also impersonated finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi on WhatsApp. There is legitimate fear that once the accused person is released on bail, there is no doubt that he will interfere with witnesses known to him,” Kalimbo said.
According to him, Nowaseb on numerous occasions indicated that he will "delay the case until the complainant [dies]".
Flight risk
Kalimbo argued that Nowaseb could be a flight risk once released on bail.
"The accused was previously released in Swakopmund on bail on the conditions that he is not to apply for travel documents or travel out of the country. The accused violated these conditions. He applied for a travel document and travelled to South Africa where he spent some of the victim's money.
"Should he be released on bail, will he even stand trial?
"He already made it clear that he will delay the case until the victim [Bastos] dies. The victim is 87 as we speak. I am of the view that he is not suitable to be granted bail.”
Only N$300k recovered
Kalimbo further told the court that of the N$2.5 million defrauded from Bastos, only N$300 000 was recovered from the accused’s Nedbank bank account.
"His bank statement indicated that he mostly bought cell phones and food. When the accused appeared for the first time, he told officers ‘tell the old man I am enjoying his money’.
"This could be the reason he withdrew a large sum of money that we cannot find. We believe that he is still in possession of victim's money," Kalimbo said. Magistrate John Sindano presided over the proceedings. He postponed the matter to 4 October. Nowaseb was represented by Albert Titus. He will remain in custody in the meantime.
Nowaseb, who received the money from businessman Jose Luis Bastos between November 2022 and January 2023, faces 15 counts of fraud and, alternatively, money laundering.
He pretended to be Nandi-Ndaitwah’s representative ahead of the 2022 Swapo congress and managed to solicit N$2.5 million from the businessman, who was allegedly approached to contribute money to Nandi-Ndaitwah’s campaign.
Nandi-Ndaitwah is also Namibia’s deputy prime minister.
A case of fraud, alternatively theft by false pretences, and money laundering was opened against him on 1 February.
Nowaseb approached the court with his bail application six months after his arrest.
State opposes bail
State prosecutor Maggy Shiyagaya opposed bail and relied on the investigating officer’s statement to do so.
Detective chief inspector Fenni Kalimbo told the court Nowaseb allegedly created a business profile under Nandi-Ndaitwah’s name.
"Files and audio were discovered from the accused person's phone after it was sent to the lab for forensic analysis," he said, adding that Nowaseb should not be granted bail due to the seriousness of the case.
"Nowaseb impersonated the deputy prime minister and vice-president of Swapo. He also impersonated finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi on WhatsApp. There is legitimate fear that once the accused person is released on bail, there is no doubt that he will interfere with witnesses known to him,” Kalimbo said.
According to him, Nowaseb on numerous occasions indicated that he will "delay the case until the complainant [dies]".
Flight risk
Kalimbo argued that Nowaseb could be a flight risk once released on bail.
"The accused was previously released in Swakopmund on bail on the conditions that he is not to apply for travel documents or travel out of the country. The accused violated these conditions. He applied for a travel document and travelled to South Africa where he spent some of the victim's money.
"Should he be released on bail, will he even stand trial?
"He already made it clear that he will delay the case until the victim [Bastos] dies. The victim is 87 as we speak. I am of the view that he is not suitable to be granted bail.”
Only N$300k recovered
Kalimbo further told the court that of the N$2.5 million defrauded from Bastos, only N$300 000 was recovered from the accused’s Nedbank bank account.
"His bank statement indicated that he mostly bought cell phones and food. When the accused appeared for the first time, he told officers ‘tell the old man I am enjoying his money’.
"This could be the reason he withdrew a large sum of money that we cannot find. We believe that he is still in possession of victim's money," Kalimbo said. Magistrate John Sindano presided over the proceedings. He postponed the matter to 4 October. Nowaseb was represented by Albert Titus. He will remain in custody in the meantime.
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