Ex-nurse accused of swapping lab results in N$1,2 million insurance claim

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.

Public prosecutor Erastus Christiana alleged during Amwaalwa’s bail hearing in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday that laboratory results belonging to Elizabeth Elifas were falsely presented as those of Claudia Martin in December 2024.

According to Christiana, the claim formed part of fraudulent claims amounting to N$1,8 million that were submitted to the insurance company Sanlam Namibia.

It is alleged that Amwaalwa, in cohort with medical doctors Fillemon Nakanduungile and Varela Carlos and intern doctor Kelsey Kudumo, facilitated the fraudulent claims.

The prosecutor further alleged that N$100 000 from the N$1,2 million claimed by Martin was paid into a bank account of Amwaalwa’s sister, while N$20 000 was allegedly paid to Kudumo.

However, Kudumo’s lawyer, Antonius Shapumba, told the court on Tuesday that she received only N$18 000 and did not know what the money was for.

Amwaalwa, on the other hand, told the court he received N$35 000, which he described as a token of appreciation.

He said the money was paid into his sister’s account by a cleaner at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital.

The state alleges that the claims were submitted under the pretext that the individuals had been hospitalised at Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital and were therefore entitled to hospitalisation benefits under Sanlam insurance policies.

Christiana further told the court that false insurance claims were allegedly processed through Amwaalwa using two date stamps from Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital and Eenhana District Hospital.

Amwaalwa admitted in court this week that he previously worked as a nurse at Omuhongo clinic, which falls under Eenhana District Hospital, before joining Onandjokwe Intermediate Hospital.

However, he denied any involvement in defrauding Sanlam Namibia.

According to Christiana, one Teopolina Abner allegedly claimed N$378 000 from Sanlam through eight separate claims.

The prosecutor further alleged that Abner Mateus, who is accused of masterminding the shooting attack on prosecutor Justine Shiweda, fraudulently obtained N$125 000 from the insurance company.

Mateus’ nephew, Petrus Shikwaya, allegedly claimed N$66 000.

Christiana also accused Amwaalwa of personally benefiting after allegedly fraudulently claiming N$10 000 from Sanlam.

The state also alleges that Anna Taatsu, Maria Nehoya, Martha Kalunde, Jafet Kapa, Martha Ndashe, Hendrina Shooya, Josephina Antindi, Ismael Shikongo and Samuel Abner were among individuals who submitted false claims to Sanlam Namibia.

Amwaalwa told the court he does not know the individuals.

However, he admitted that he took two date stamps from his office to his colleague Josua Katsilwa’s house.

“I don’t know whether the date stamps belong to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. I thought they belonged to Katsilwa. I had no reason to confirm who the stamps belonged to,” Amwaalwa said.

According to Christiana, while the date stamps were at Katsilwa’s house, they were allegedly used to stamp fraudulent Sanlam insurance claim documents, from which Amwaalwa allegedly received kickbacks dubbed as “tokens of appreciation”.

He said the date stamps were later collected from Katsilwa’s house by him accompanied by police officers.

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