Oshakati council dismisses driver
A driver employed by the Oshakati town council has been found guilty of fraudulently using the council's fuel card.
The Oshakati town council has dismissed one of its drivers with immediate effect after he was found guilty of fuel card fraud, which cost the local authority more than N$22 000.
Tomas Natanael (38) has indicated that he will appeal his dismissal. Council CEO Werner Iita confirmed the dismissal, saying proper disciplinary procedures were followed.
According to a record of the disciplinary hearing seen by Namibian Sun, Natanael He was also found guilty of negligence.
According to the charge sheet, a council fuel card booked out by Natanael on 1 August last year was used to fuel different council vehicles between 5 August and 9 September last year.
Forged signatures were reportedly found on the petrol receipts.
He was informed last week that the council's management committee had endorsed the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, which found him guilty of fraud.
He has seven days to lodge an appeal.
“You are liable for financial losses amounting to N$22 529. You will be discharged from the service of the local authority of Oshakati ... with effect from 31 August,” read the management council letter.
Iita said the accused had earlier also appealed the disciplinary charges against him. However, the appeal was dismissed.
“Fraud was committed and the council lost money. He was the suspect and we followed all the procedures and he was found guilty. There was no reason to appeal and his appeal was thus dismissed,” said Iita.
Natanael claimed he had booked out the fuel card from the transport officer on 1 August last year, but when he returned it, he could not find the official in the office.
“I put the card back in the office as we always do when she is not in the office. Only later I was informed that I had misused the card and I was charged for that. During the disciplinary hearing I learned that my signature that was on the petrol receipt was forged. I am innocent and I will challenge this dismissal,” he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
Tomas Natanael (38) has indicated that he will appeal his dismissal. Council CEO Werner Iita confirmed the dismissal, saying proper disciplinary procedures were followed.
According to a record of the disciplinary hearing seen by Namibian Sun, Natanael He was also found guilty of negligence.
According to the charge sheet, a council fuel card booked out by Natanael on 1 August last year was used to fuel different council vehicles between 5 August and 9 September last year.
Forged signatures were reportedly found on the petrol receipts.
He was informed last week that the council's management committee had endorsed the outcome of the disciplinary hearing, which found him guilty of fraud.
He has seven days to lodge an appeal.
“You are liable for financial losses amounting to N$22 529. You will be discharged from the service of the local authority of Oshakati ... with effect from 31 August,” read the management council letter.
Iita said the accused had earlier also appealed the disciplinary charges against him. However, the appeal was dismissed.
“Fraud was committed and the council lost money. He was the suspect and we followed all the procedures and he was found guilty. There was no reason to appeal and his appeal was thus dismissed,” said Iita.
Natanael claimed he had booked out the fuel card from the transport officer on 1 August last year, but when he returned it, he could not find the official in the office.
“I put the card back in the office as we always do when she is not in the office. Only later I was informed that I had misused the card and I was charged for that. During the disciplinary hearing I learned that my signature that was on the petrol receipt was forged. I am innocent and I will challenge this dismissal,” he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
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