WINDHOEK – The trial of Antoine Mbok (37), a Namibian of Cameroonian origin, and Daniel David Nghiwilepo (40), a Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) employee, who face several fraud charges involving N$3,9 million, has been postponed to April next year.

The High Court trial of the two will take place during the period April 01-12, 2013 and due to its complexity will again resume between May 02 – 03, 2013 and July 01-12 2013.

The third accused in the matter, Veronika Kituna Thomas (39), a registry clerk in the Ministry of Finance, who in February this year admitted to charges of fraud and corruption involving a total amount of N$3,9 million, was sent to jail for eight years in March this year.

Thomas’ trial was separated from Nghiwilepo and Mbok’s trial, because she pleaded guilty to the five counts of fraud at the start of her hearing before High Court Justice Alfred Siboleka on February 10, 2012.

Thomas’ co-accused, Mbok and Nghiwilepo, pleaded not guilty on all 10 counts of fraud and corruption, and their case was separated from that of Thomas.

The trio is accused of defrauding several companies and government agencies of up to N$3,9 million in valued-added tax (VAT) and returns for import VAT.

It is alleged that between January 25, 2010 and February 18, 2010, five cheques were intercepted at the Ministry of Finance by Thomas and deposited into Mbok’s company account, called M Finance.

Information from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which was the investigating agency, shows that the five affected entities are GS Fainsinger Associates and Consulting Engineers, the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ Global Fund, Edu Loan (now Letshego Financial Services Namibia), Kalahari Sands Hotel and Casino and Afrisam Cement Namibia which closed operations in Namibia and moved to South Africa after one of its workers embezzled millions.

The ACC indicated that after the deposits were made N$277 450 was withdrawn, while a further US$14 730 (about N$103 000) was transferred electronically to a company called Strong Technologies for the purchase of Strong Digital Satellite Receivers in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

At the time when the deposits were made into the account of the second accused (Mbok’s company, M Finance), several names of depositors were allegedly used by the accused to conceal the nature, origin, location, disposition and movement of the property, the ACC stated.

Mbok is currently free on bail, while Nghwilepo is free on a mere caution.

Justice Nate Ndauendapo presided, while Advocate Shakwa Nyambe represented the State.

Mese Tjituri appeared for Mbok, while Boris Isaaks appeared for Nghiwilepo.