Also known as: Abner Mewiliko Mateus
Former police officer accused of masterminding the October 2025 acid attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who died in February 2026.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Abner Mateus
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The Namibian
Abner Mateus told the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court he deliberately concealed arrest from nephew Petrus Shikwaya for nearly three years
“Murder accused Abner Mateus told the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Friday that he deliberately concealed from his nephew and co-accused, Petrus Shikwaya, that he had been arrested and was in police custody for nearly three years.”
Murder accused admits hiding arrest from nephew in Ondangwa courtThe Namibian
Abner Mateus was arrested in November 2022 on fraud charges and remained in custody
“He informed the court that he was arrested in November 2022 on fraud charges and has remained in custody since then.”
Murder accused admits hiding arrest from nephew in Ondangwa courtThe Namibian
Abner Mateus is accused of masterminding fatal attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda
“Mateus, who is accused of masterminding the fatal attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda last year, made the remarks while testifying during Shikwaya's bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Friday.”
Unfair to keep innocent man in custody, Ondangwa court hearsThe Namibian
Abner Mateus is alleged to have instructed Shikwaya to send N$1 200 to Petrus Uusiku to buy acid
“According to the state, Mateus instructed Shikwaya to send N$1 200 to Petrus Uusiku to buy acid allegedly used in the attack that led to the death of prosecutor Justine Shiweda.”
Emotions take over at Ondangwa CourtThe Namibian
Abner Mateus allegedly coordinated the attack on Justine Shiweda while in police custody
“The state alleged that the attack was coordinated by Shikwaya's uncle, Abner Mateus, while he was in police custody.”
Murder accused allegedly laundered money through grandmother’s bank accountThe Namibian
Abner Mateus allegedly used Shikwaya's name to claim insurance money
“Shikwaya told the court last month that he was not hospitalised at Onandjokwe, and that his co-accused and uncle, Abner Mateus, used his (Shikwaya's) name to claim the money.”
Alleged fraudster accused of faking hospital stay in insurance scamThe Namibian
Abner Mateus allegedly participated with others in fraudulent Sanlam insurance scheme
“Public prosecutor Erastus Christiana told the court that Kudumo allegedly worked together with medical doctors Fillemon Nakanduungile and Varela Gomes, former Onandjokwe nurse Festus Amwaalwa, alleged criminal gang leader Abner Mateus and 16 other accused persons to defraud Sanlam Namibia.”
Intern doctor denies role in alleged Sanlam medical fraud schemeThe Namibian
Abner Mateus is accused of masterminding the shooting attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda
“The prosecutor further alleged that Abner Mateus, who is accused of masterminding the shooting attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, fraudulently obtained N$125 000 from the insurance company.”
Ex-nurse accused of swapping lab results in N$1,2 million insurance claimNamibian Sun
Abner Mateus is alleged to have been named by investigators as central figure in murder investigation linked to Justine Shiweda
“The broader case has also surfaced in investigations linked to the murder of former control prosecutor Justine Shiweda, with Mateus repeatedly named by investigators as a central figure in both matters.”
Amwaalwa denies links to alleged Sanlam fraud syndicateThe Namibian
Abner Mateus is accused of masterminding the attack on and shooting of prosecutor Justine Shiweda
“Mpinge, a cleaner at Onandjokwe Hospital, has also been linked to Abner Mateus, who is accused of masterminding the attack on and shooting of Ondangwa control prosecutor Justine Shiweda in October last year, who subsequently died.”
Ex-Onandjokwe nurse says fraudulent Sanlam payout bought his mother Christmas foodPolice arrested a murder fugitive wanted in connection with prosecutor Justine Shiweda's death. The suspect is also linked to an N$56,000 robbery near Bank Windhoek at Oshakati and allegedly sent threatening messages to journalists and officers investigating the case.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Police arrested a murder fugitive wanted in connection with prosecutor Justine Shiweda's death. The suspect is also linked to an N$56,000 robbery near Bank Windhoek at Oshakati and allegedly sent threatening messages to journalists and officers investigating the case.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus Shikwaya, accused of providing money for acid used in the fatal attack on Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda, has been denied bail. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder in common purpose, murder in common purpose, defeating or obstructing the course of justice, and defrauding Sanlam Namibia of N$154,000.
29 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Ondangwa Magistrate's Court has denied bail to Petrus Shikwaya, charged with murder and conspiracy in connection with the killing of prosecutor Justine Shiweda, who died in February following an acid attack in October 2025. Shikwaya is the nephew of former police officer Abner Mateus, who allegedly decided to assassinate Shiweda after a failed bribe attempt.
28 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Office of the Judiciary has transferred three prosecutors and two magistrates from the Ondangwa Magistrate Court to help them recover emotionally after colleague Justine Shiweda was murdered. Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa said the transfers aim to provide staff with a different environment to cope with trauma and stress from the incident.
22 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Magistrate Bornface Konga cautioned public prosecutors against relying on vague references to "public interest" and "administration of justice" when opposing bail without substantiating evidence, in a ruling on the bail application of five accused persons facing fraud charges relating to an alleged N$1.2 million claim.
9 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Swapo Party Youth League leader Paulus Nuuyoma was denied bail in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Friday, charged in connection with an alleged insurance fraud scheme involving more than N$1.2 million. He is accused of facilitating fraudulent insurance payouts linked to Klaudia Martin and Abner Mateus, who is accused of masterminding an attack on a prosecutor.
8 August 2026 · The Namibian →
In a bail hearing for Petrus Shikwaya, accused of financing the attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, defence lawyer Murray Shikongo accused investigating officer Antonius Gabriel of fabricating evidence and questioned how conspiracy charges had been amended and withdrawn. Gabriel denied wrongdoing and testified that Shikwaya transported alleged kingpin Abner Mateus in connection with the fatal attack on Shiweda last October.
26 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Matatias Ndengu, the seventh accused in the killing of Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda, was denied bail in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Friday. According to a source, Ndengu allegedly travelled from Windhoek to Ondangwa with fellow accused Johannes Nghilifavali on 16 October and brought acid used in the attack on Shiweda on 17 October 2026, and faces six charges including murder under the doctrine of common purpose.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa, accused in a N$2.2 million Sanlam fraud case, claimed in bail submissions that the investigating officer made him "the sacrificial lamb" while other suspects, including hospital cleaner Hela Mpinge, escaped arrest. Amwaalwa also alleged the detective seized his cellphone without proper cause and viewed private photographs.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
A former nurse accused in a N$2.2 million Sanlam fraud case told the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court that an investigating officer made him "the sacrificial lamb," claiming a hospital cleaner with alleged ties to the case's alleged kingpin received money but was not arrested. He also alleged the officer seized his cellphone without warrant and viewed private photographs.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Two men implicated in the assassination of Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda were granted bail of N$2,000 each in Windhoek Magistrate's Court. They also face separate charges related to allegedly bribing a police officer to release an inmate, in connection with a conspiracy to murder Shiweda.
22 June 2026 · Informanté →
Petrus Shikwaya (22), facing murder charges in connection with prosecutor Justine Shiweda's death and fraud charges tied to an alleged N$2.1 million Sanlam scam, allegedly used part of the fraudulently obtained funds for purchases at KFC and building material suppliers, police told Ondangwa Magistrate's Court during his bail hearing.
21 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The state alleges that murder suspect Abner Mateus planned to burn down Ondangwa Magistrate's Court and have his docket stolen after failed bail applications, and that he masterminded from prison the murder of prosecutor Justine Shiweda in October. Mateus denies the allegations.
18 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Police have alleged that murder accused Abner Mateus made several attempts to make a fraud case docket disappear, including recruiting police officers to steal court documents and attempting to bribe the prosecutor. The investigator testified that Mateus had a motive to interfere with justice because he was facing fraud charges stemming from a 2022 case in which he allegedly defrauded a pensioner of N$70 000.
18 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Prosecutors allege that murder accused Abner Mateus communicated with a fugitive suspect before and after the October attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, and that co-accused Petrus Shikwaya transferred N$4,950 to the same suspect minutes after the attack. Shiweda was shot and doused with corrosive acid in Ondangwa and died in hospital in February.
17 June 2026 · The Namibian →
A man accused of masterminding an acid attack on late Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda declined to reveal the source of N$40,000 he used to purchase a vehicle that the state claims was used to transport acid used in the October attack. Shiweda died from the attack's injuries in February; the vehicle is central to the state's case.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
In a bail hearing for his co-accused nephew, murder accused Abner Mateus testified to Ondangwa Magistrate's Court that he is not a murderer and had no intention of killing anyone. Mateus is among six men charged in connection with the death of former Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Abner Mateus, a former police officer accused in the murder of Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda, testified that he deliberately hid from his nephew and co-accused Petrus Shikwaya that he had been arrested and held in police custody since November 2022. Mateus and Shikwaya are among six men accused of orchestrating last October's attack on Shiweda, who was shot seven times and treated with corrosive acid before dying in February.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Abner Mateus, accused of masterminding a fatal attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, testified in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court that it would be unfair to keep his nephew and co-accused Petrus Shikwaya in custody. Mateus disputed the state's assertion that it has a strong case against Shikwaya, arguing that Shikwaya's alleged involvement is based only on sending N$1 200 that was purportedly used to buy acid.
13 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Emotions erupted at the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court during a bail hearing for murder accused Petrus Shikwaya when one of prosecutor Justine Shiweda's sisters attempted to confront alleged mastermind Abner Mateus. According to the state, Mateus instructed Shikwaya to send N$1 200 to Petrus Uusiku to buy acid allegedly used in the attack that led to Shiweda's death.
12 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus Shikwaya (22), accused of orchestrating an October attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda that led to her death in February, allegedly laundered money through his grandmother's bank account, the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court heard. Shikwaya denied the allegation, claiming his grandmother transferred funds to him to purchase stock for her business.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Kelsey Kudumo, an Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital intern doctor, faces allegations of participating in an insurance fraud scheme involving falsified medical reports and laboratory results amounting to more than N$2.1 million. The prosecution claims medical records were falsified to support fraudulent insurance claims, with two doctors and a former nurse also linked to the scheme.
21 May 2026 · The Namibian →
An Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital intern doctor has denied participating in a fraudulent Sanlam insurance scheme involving falsified medical reports and laboratory results amounting to more than N$2.1 million. The state alleges she worked with medical doctors, a former nurse, a criminal gang leader and 16 others to defraud the insurer by exchanging laboratory results and falsifying medical records.
20 May 2026 · The Namibian →
A former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse is accused of exchanging laboratory results to facilitate a fraudulent insurance claim of N$1.2 million submitted to Sanlam Namibia in December 2024, allegedly in cohort with two doctors and an intern doctor. The state alleges that N$1.8 million in fraudulent claims were submitted, with portions of funds distributed to the accused and other alleged conspirators.
19 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Festus Amwaalwa, a former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse applying for bail, has denied knowing alleged Sanlam fraud kingpin Abner Mateus or involvement in fraudulent insurance claims. State prosecutors allege Mateus recruited Amwaalwa to process fraudulent Sanlam claims amounting to about N$1.9m, but Amwaalwa testified he only met Mateus after their arrests in the investigation.
19 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa testified in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court that he received N$35,000 as a token of appreciation from a fraudulent Sanlam insurance claim involving approximately N$1.3 million, and used part of the money for personal expenses including car repairs, clothes for his children, and Christmas food for his mother. He also testified that additional funds were distributed to other individuals, including intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo (N$20,000), Ottilie Johannes (N$40,000), and Hela Mpinge (N$5,000).
18 May 2026 · The Namibian →
Four suspects appeared in Ondangwa Magistrate's Court on Friday in connection with a widening Sanlam Namibia insurance fraud probe, bringing total arrests to 17. The accused face allegations of fraud, theft, forgery, uttering, corruption, money laundering and conspiracy, with investigations linked to the murder case of control prosecutor Justine Shiweda.
15 May 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The state alleges that 21-year-old murder and fraud accused Petrus Shikwaya owns five properties across northern Namibia, claiming his uncle Abner Mateus financed their acquisition; Shikwaya has denied knowledge of most properties but confirmed ownership of a farming unit near Windhoek that he says he bought for N$11,000.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
The state alleges that murder accused Petrus Shikwaya fraudulently took possession of his uncle's Suzuki vehicle and gave it to co-accused Petrus Uusiku as a reward for buying acid used to attack Ondangwa prosecutor Justine Shiweda on 17 October 2025. Shikwaya denies the allegations, claiming the vehicle was purchased for his uncle at the decision of his uncles.
23 April 2026 · The Namibian →
Petrus Shikwaya, 21, testified at his bail hearing that his uncle, former police officer Abner Mateus, used his bank account and sent money through him without his knowledge, including funds allegedly used to buy acid for the attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda. Shikwaya denied knowing Shiweda or being present during the incident, saying he was in Windhoek at the time.
21 April 2026 · The Namibian →