Sanlam fraud case reveals financial links to Shiweda murder suspect
via The Namibian5 min read
During bail proceedings at the Ondangwa Regional Court, Petrus Shikwaya, 21, implicated several relatives in a N$1.9 million Sanlam fraud case, with over N$1 million allegedly channeled into his business bank account. State prosecutor Yeukai Kangira detailed financial transactions, including N$450,000 received through Israel Shikongo and N$253,000 paid on behalf of Abner Samuel, both Shikwaya's uncles. Shikongo is also the brother of Abner Mateus, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Justine Shiweda, who was shot and attacked with a corrosive substance on October 17 last year and died earlier this year. Kangira stated that N$40,000 from the N$253,000 was used to buy a second-hand car for an earlier planned attack on Shiweda. Additional funds of N$154,000 were deposited into Shikwaya's account under the guise of a false hospitalization claim. The state linked these to a broader N$1.2 million fraud scheme from Sanlam Namibia, reportedly connected to Claudia Martin, and other smaller fraudulent claims. Shikwaya denied knowledge of these individuals and funds, claiming his uncle Mateus controlled such transactions. He stated he bought the vehicle on Abner Samuel's instruction for a Yango business and handed it to Petrus Uusiku, another murder suspect. Shikwaya admitted Mateus asked him to transfer money for acid used in the attack but denied involvement in planning the murder. He pleaded not guilty to murder, fraud, and corruption charges, arguing for bail to pursue studie
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila urged media institutions to improve the portrayal of women, especially those in leadership roles. Speaking at the 35th anniversary of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation NBC, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila noted that media coverage often focuses on controversy and personal conduct rather than women's professional achievements. She stated that this imbalance erodes public confidence in women leaders and discourages women from participating in public life. The Speaker emphasized the media's responsibility to assess women based on their work and called for fair, balanced, and contextualized reporting. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also raised concerns about technology-facilitated violence against women, such as online harassment and disinformation campaigns, which force women to limit their online presence or withdraw from public life. She urged public media to refuse to amplify abusive content and promote responsible digital conduct. Furthermore, she called on media organizations to invest in journalist training to improve reporting on complex national issues, including economics, public finance, and legislative processes, to ensure accurate reporting and strengthen the media's accountability role.
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