Festus Amwaalwa

Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse accused in N$2.2 million Sanlam fraud case involving falsified insurance claims.

2026-03-172026-07-21

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

July 2026
20 JulThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa requested removal of lead investigator Leon Amakali from fraud case
Source
“Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa has requested the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to remove the lead investigator from his multimillion-dollar fraud case.”
Sanlam fraud accused wants chief investigator Amakali removed
17 JulThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa admitted to receiving N$35 000 described as token of appreciation
Source
“Amwaalwa, who admitted to receiving N$35 000, which he described as a token of appreciation, claimed that the investigating officer in the matter, detective warrant officer Leo Amakali, had made him "the sacrificial lamb" in the case.”
Former nurse claims police made him ‘sacrificial lamb’
17 JulThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa alleged that Leo Amakali seized his cellphone and viewed private photographs
Source
“"He forced me to provide my phone password and, in my presence, viewed private naked photographs of my girlfriend and mocked me," Amwaalwa told the court.”
Former nurse claims police made him ‘sacrificial lamb’
17 JulThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa admitted to receiving N$35,000 described as token of appreciation
Source
“Amwaalwa, who admitted to receiving N$35 000, which he described as a token of appreciation, claimed that the investigating officer in the matter, detective warrant officer Leo Amakali, had made him "the sacrificial lamb" in the case.”
Former nurse claims police made him ‘sacrificial lamb’
17 JulThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa claimed that investigating officer Leo Amakali made him 'sacrificial lamb' in case
Source
“Amwaalwa, who admitted to receiving N$35 000, which he described as a token of appreciation, claimed that the investigating officer in the matter, detective warrant officer Leo Amakali, had made him "the sacrificial lamb" in the case.”
Former nurse claims police made him ‘sacrificial lamb’
May 2026
26 MayThe Namibian
Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa testified that Kelsey received N$20 000 from his sister as a token of appreciation
Source
“However, former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa testified that Kelsey received N$20 000 from his sister as a "token of appreciation".”
Mother accused of interfering in N$2.1m Sanlam fraud probe
20 MayThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa allegedly worked together with medical doctors and others to defraud Sanlam Namibia
Source
“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 scheme
19 MayThe Namibian
Festus Amwaalwa is alleged to have exchanged laboratory results from the Namibia Institute of Pathology to facilitate a fraudulent insurance claim of N$1,2 million
Source
“The state is alleging that former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa exchanged laboratory results from the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to facilitate a fraudulent insurance claim of N$1,2 million.”
Ex-nurse accused of swapping lab results in N$1,2 million insurance claim
19 MayThe Namibian
Amwaalwa denied involvement in defrauding Sanlam Namibia
Source
“However, he denied any involvement in defrauding Sanlam Namibia.”
Ex-nurse accused of swapping lab results in N$1,2 million insurance claim
19 MayNamibian Sun
Festus Amwaalwa denied knowing alleged Sanlam fraud kingpin Abner Mateus
Source
“Former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwa, who is applying for bail at the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court, has denied knowing alleged Sanlam fraud kingpin Abner Mateus or being involved in any fraudulent insurance claims linked to him.”
Amwaalwa denies links to alleged Sanlam fraud syndicate

Society

Fraud accused seeks removal of chief investigator Amakali

The News

Festus Amwaalwa, one of 28 people accused of defrauding Sanlam of about N$2.2 million, has requested the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to remove lead investigator Leon Amakali, claiming misconduct, intimidation, and personal grievances threaten his right to a fair trial. Amwaalwa alleges Amakali demanded sexual favours from his sister and threatened to implicate him in an unrelated murder case.

21 hours ago · The Namibian →

Yesterday

Fraud accused seeks removal of chief investigator Amakali
Festus Amwaalwa, one of 28 people accused of defrauding Sanlam of about N$2.2 million, has requested the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court to remove lead investigator Leon Amakali, claiming misconduct, intimidation, and personal grievances threaten his right to a fair trial. Amwaalwa alleges Amakali demanded sexual favours from his sister and threatened to implicate him in an unrelated murder case.
21 hours ago · The Namibian →

Friday 17 July

Nurse in fraud case accuses detective of unfair investigation
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 →
Nurse accused in fraud case claims police made him scapegoat
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 →

Tuesday 26 May

Mother accused of interfering in N$2.1m Sanlam fraud probe
The mother of Onandjokwe intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo is accused of repeatedly contacting and bothering a police officer investigating her daughter's alleged involvement in a N$2.1 million Sanlam fraud scheme. Kudumo is among medical staff members from Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital arrested in connection with an alleged fraudulent Sanlam insurance scheme involving falsified medical reports and laboratory results.
26 May 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 21 May

Hospital intern accused in N$2.1 million insurance fraud scheme
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 →

Wednesday 20 May

Intern doctor denies role in alleged insurance fraud scheme
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 →

Tuesday 19 May

Ex-nurse accused of swapping lab results in insurance fraud
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 →
Former nurse denies knowing alleged Sanlam fraud kingpin
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 →

Monday 18 May

Ex-nurse details spending from fraudulent N$1.3 million Sanlam claim
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 →

Tuesday 17 March

Five accused in prosecutor murder denied bail in Ondangwa court
Five of six men accused of murdering Ondangwa Control Prosecutor Justine Shiweda were denied bail in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court; the case has been postponed to 8 April for further investigation and legal representation. A separate group of twelve people, including three of the murder suspects, faced charges related to N$1.9 million in money laundering at Sanlam, with six granted bail of N$25,000 each and six linked to the murder denied bail.
17 March 2026 · New Era →