Pensioner’s N$4m theft case postponed

A case in which a pensioner is accused of stealing more than N$4 million from deceased estates of which she had been appointed as an administrator has been postponed to April next year.

The case was postponed when the accused, Martha Dobberstein (78), made her latest appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

During the appearance, public prosecutor Tjiramuina Rutjindo informed magistrate Tony Bock that a decision of the prosecutor general on the further conduct of the case in which Dobberstein is charged is not yet available.

Rutjindo added that it had been agreed with the defence in the matter to have the case postponed to 6 April 2027 for the prosecutor general’s decision to be made.

Dobberstein’s case was first postponed for the prosecutor general’s decision to be provided to the court after she denied guilt on seven charges in July.

The charges are based on allegations that Dobberstein stole money from the estates of five deceased people between October 2023 and December 2025, after she had been appointed as the administrator of the estates.

A total amount of N$4 006 825 is claimed to have been stolen from estates administered by Dobberstein.

The state is alleging that Dobberstein stole an amount of N$1.35 million from one estate from the start of 2024 to the end of December 2025.

It is also alleged that she stole an amount of N$875 150 from another estate between June 2023 and April 2025.

The state is further alleging that Dobberstein stole N$770 400 from an estate between the start of January 2024 and the end of December 2025.

Other amounts that Dobberstein allegedly stole from estates are N$534 000, claimed to have been stolen between October 2022 and October 2024, N$238 075 and N$236 200.

Dobberstein has pleaded not guilty on one count of money laundering and seven charges of theft by conversion.

She was arrested near the end of March last year, and was granted bail in an amount of N$10 000 with her first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court.

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