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August 2026
The Namibian
Festus Amwaalwaisformer Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital employee accused in N$2.2 million fraud case
Source
“The accused are Sanlam financial adviser Getrud Ipinge, Omuhungo Clinic nurse Michael Kaviyu, Ondandjokwe Intermediate Hospital medical doctor Varela Gomes, intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo, and former Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital employee Festus Amwaalwa.”
Festus Amwaalwarequestedremoval 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.”
Festus Amwaalwaadmitted to receivingN$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.”
Festus Amwaalwaalleged that Leo Amakali seizedhis 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.”
Festus Amwaalwaadmitted to receivingN$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.”
Festus Amwaalwaclaimed thatinvestigating 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 Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital nurse Festus Amwaalwatestified thatKelsey 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".”
Festus Amwaalwaallegedly worked together withmedical 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.”
Festus Amwaalwais alleged to have exchanged laboratory results from the Namibia Institute of Pathologyto 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.”
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.
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.
Five people including four medical professionals were granted bail of N$25,000 each by the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court in connection with an alleged N$2.2 million fraud case involving Sanlam. The accused face 13 charges, with strict bail conditions including surrender of travel documents and a prohibition on committing similar offences.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.