Lavish ‘fake businessman' leaves Rundu lodges licking their wounds
Frederick Eduardo Gariseb (35), an alleged fraudster accused of masquarading as a reputable businessman, has been denied bail after reportedly leaving unpaid bills exceeding N$36 000 at several lodges in Rundu.
On Monday, Rundu magistrate Sonia Samupofu denied Gariseb bail and postponed the case to 6 March for further investigation. Gariseb faces charges of fraud, forgery and uttering forged documents.
According to court documents, Gariseb allegedly defrauded Ngandu Lodge of N$18 438 and Omashare River Lodge of N$18 400 using forged payment documents.
Omashare River Lodge management uncovered the fraud and alerted the police.
Lodge manager Mauro Rosa described the scheme as a calculated attempt to exploit multiple businesses in the hospitality sector. Rosa recounted how Gariseb checked into the lodge on 17 January, providing what he claimed was proof of payment from Nedbank.
“Being the weekend, we could not immediately verify the funds and allowed him to check in,” Rosa explained. However, suspicions arose when Gariseb began charging large amounts for food and beverages to his room account.
Confrontation
By Monday, the payment had not reflected in the lodge's account. Upon contacting Nedbank, they discovered the transaction was fraudulent, with invalid reference numbers and no account under the name Gariseb listed.
When confronted, Gariseb claimed the transaction was made through Nedbank South Africa and provided multiple excuses, including that his payment had bounced back.
He also claimed to be a shareholder in Ngatu Vocational Training Centre (VTC) and claimed they would settle his bill, Rosa said.
However, upon contacting Ngatu VTC, the lodge discovered that Gariseb had no connection to the institution. After several days, the lodge filed a case of fraud when Gariseb attempted to check out without settling his bill.
Trail of alleged fraud
Further investigations revealed that Gariseb had allegedly used similar tactics to defraud other establishments, including Ngandu Lodge, Kavango River Lodge and Rundu Hotel.
Rosa also said it was discovered that Gariseb allegedly falsely claimed to offer borehole drilling classes through Ngatu VTC, charging N$6 000 per course, but reportedly pocketing the money without delivering any services.
‘Deeply upsetting’
Gariseb’s alleged fraudulent activities extended beyond lodges.
Local Eagle FM journalist Annakleta Haikera also reportedly fell victim after Gariseb contacted her, posing as a philanthropist donating boreholes to residents at the Sun City informal settlement in Rundu.
Haikera, who had written about Gariseb’s supposed donation of water containers, said she later discovered that he had used her article to scam others.
“He promised to deliver boreholes but kept making excuses. Eventually, I found out he was already wanted for fraud,” Haikera said yesterday.
She added that Gariseb used her article as proof of his supposed generosity, convincing individuals to send him money, with some victims allegedly paying as much as N$50 000.
“It’s deeply upsetting,” Haikera said.
“As a journalist, I became a victim, and he used my work to defraud others.”
Despite his arrest, Gariseb continued to claim he had donated boreholes, even using Haikera’s name as a reference.
[email protected]
On Monday, Rundu magistrate Sonia Samupofu denied Gariseb bail and postponed the case to 6 March for further investigation. Gariseb faces charges of fraud, forgery and uttering forged documents.
According to court documents, Gariseb allegedly defrauded Ngandu Lodge of N$18 438 and Omashare River Lodge of N$18 400 using forged payment documents.
Omashare River Lodge management uncovered the fraud and alerted the police.
Lodge manager Mauro Rosa described the scheme as a calculated attempt to exploit multiple businesses in the hospitality sector. Rosa recounted how Gariseb checked into the lodge on 17 January, providing what he claimed was proof of payment from Nedbank.
“Being the weekend, we could not immediately verify the funds and allowed him to check in,” Rosa explained. However, suspicions arose when Gariseb began charging large amounts for food and beverages to his room account.
Confrontation
By Monday, the payment had not reflected in the lodge's account. Upon contacting Nedbank, they discovered the transaction was fraudulent, with invalid reference numbers and no account under the name Gariseb listed.
When confronted, Gariseb claimed the transaction was made through Nedbank South Africa and provided multiple excuses, including that his payment had bounced back.
He also claimed to be a shareholder in Ngatu Vocational Training Centre (VTC) and claimed they would settle his bill, Rosa said.
However, upon contacting Ngatu VTC, the lodge discovered that Gariseb had no connection to the institution. After several days, the lodge filed a case of fraud when Gariseb attempted to check out without settling his bill.
Trail of alleged fraud
Further investigations revealed that Gariseb had allegedly used similar tactics to defraud other establishments, including Ngandu Lodge, Kavango River Lodge and Rundu Hotel.
Rosa also said it was discovered that Gariseb allegedly falsely claimed to offer borehole drilling classes through Ngatu VTC, charging N$6 000 per course, but reportedly pocketing the money without delivering any services.
‘Deeply upsetting’
Gariseb’s alleged fraudulent activities extended beyond lodges.
Local Eagle FM journalist Annakleta Haikera also reportedly fell victim after Gariseb contacted her, posing as a philanthropist donating boreholes to residents at the Sun City informal settlement in Rundu.
Haikera, who had written about Gariseb’s supposed donation of water containers, said she later discovered that he had used her article to scam others.
“He promised to deliver boreholes but kept making excuses. Eventually, I found out he was already wanted for fraud,” Haikera said yesterday.
She added that Gariseb used her article as proof of his supposed generosity, convincing individuals to send him money, with some victims allegedly paying as much as N$50 000.
“It’s deeply upsetting,” Haikera said.
“As a journalist, I became a victim, and he used my work to defraud others.”
Despite his arrest, Gariseb continued to claim he had donated boreholes, even using Haikera’s name as a reference.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article