Rebebe surrendered after ‘running out of diabetes meds’
After spending 54 days on the run for alleged theft from his employer at Opuwo, banker Nico Rebebe returned to the scene of his alleged crime and surrendered after running out of diabetes medication.
He has been missing since 13 January after he allegedly stole N$2 million from Bank Windhoek’s Opuwo branch, where he was stationed. Bank Windhoek initially told the police that he took N$200 million, but later said the actual amount stolen was less that N$2 million.
Rebebe allegedly sneaked back into the north-western town this week and went to his girlfriend’s place, from where he informed the police that he wanted to surrender.
“He was immediately taken to the hospital under heavy police guard. He went there to be treated for the diabetes and to undergo other tests,” a source close to the matter told Namibian Sun.
Rebebe is expected to appear in court today. He has so far told the police that he had nothing to do with the alleged theft.
“He is denying any involvement in the theft and fraud. He is also denying that he is the one who switched off the cameras... He claims that he informed his boss of his sickness and that he was going away for treatment,” an official said.
‘He looked fine’
Kunene police regional commander, Commissioner James Nderura, confirmed Rebebe’s arrest, saying it took place yesterday morning at around 07:00 in Opuwo’s Tuzemba location.
However, Nderura said the police got a tip-off from a source who is close to Rebebe’s partner, in whom she had confided that the suspect is around and wanted to hand himself over to the police.
Nderura said the police pursued the lead and Rebebe was subsequently arrested.
Rebebe was not hiding in Opuwo, but somewhere else, he added.
“He probably came [to Opuwo] the day before his arrest.”
It is rumoured Rebebe had fled to Angola.
In terms of the suspect’s mental and physical health, Nderura said he looked fine.
Wild social life
Although Bank Windhoek later said Rebebe stole ‘less than’ N$2 million, about N$2.1 million was found in bank accounts of six men from Rundu, whom Rebebe allegedly tricked into opening bank accounts, where he said he would pay their salaries for farm work.
He promised them jobs and ordered them to open bank accounts, but kept their bank cards in order to ensure they had no access to the money.
He then deposited huge sums of money into their accounts, some as high as N$500 000.
Rebebe was employed as an administrative clerk, a position which allegedly gave him advanced access to the bank’s money.
Eight people – whose bank accounts were used by Rebebe to transfer the stolen funds – have since been arrested.
Of the eight, two were arrested in Opuwo while six others were arrested in Rundu.
On the day of his disappearance, Rebebe is understood to have left the bank with a backpack containing N$500 000.
A subsequent probe uncovered his allegedly wild social life, which is suspected to have fuelled his greed.
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He has been missing since 13 January after he allegedly stole N$2 million from Bank Windhoek’s Opuwo branch, where he was stationed. Bank Windhoek initially told the police that he took N$200 million, but later said the actual amount stolen was less that N$2 million.
Rebebe allegedly sneaked back into the north-western town this week and went to his girlfriend’s place, from where he informed the police that he wanted to surrender.
“He was immediately taken to the hospital under heavy police guard. He went there to be treated for the diabetes and to undergo other tests,” a source close to the matter told Namibian Sun.
Rebebe is expected to appear in court today. He has so far told the police that he had nothing to do with the alleged theft.
“He is denying any involvement in the theft and fraud. He is also denying that he is the one who switched off the cameras... He claims that he informed his boss of his sickness and that he was going away for treatment,” an official said.
‘He looked fine’
Kunene police regional commander, Commissioner James Nderura, confirmed Rebebe’s arrest, saying it took place yesterday morning at around 07:00 in Opuwo’s Tuzemba location.
However, Nderura said the police got a tip-off from a source who is close to Rebebe’s partner, in whom she had confided that the suspect is around and wanted to hand himself over to the police.
Nderura said the police pursued the lead and Rebebe was subsequently arrested.
Rebebe was not hiding in Opuwo, but somewhere else, he added.
“He probably came [to Opuwo] the day before his arrest.”
It is rumoured Rebebe had fled to Angola.
In terms of the suspect’s mental and physical health, Nderura said he looked fine.
Wild social life
Although Bank Windhoek later said Rebebe stole ‘less than’ N$2 million, about N$2.1 million was found in bank accounts of six men from Rundu, whom Rebebe allegedly tricked into opening bank accounts, where he said he would pay their salaries for farm work.
He promised them jobs and ordered them to open bank accounts, but kept their bank cards in order to ensure they had no access to the money.
He then deposited huge sums of money into their accounts, some as high as N$500 000.
Rebebe was employed as an administrative clerk, a position which allegedly gave him advanced access to the bank’s money.
Eight people – whose bank accounts were used by Rebebe to transfer the stolen funds – have since been arrested.
Of the eight, two were arrested in Opuwo while six others were arrested in Rundu.
On the day of his disappearance, Rebebe is understood to have left the bank with a backpack containing N$500 000.
A subsequent probe uncovered his allegedly wild social life, which is suspected to have fuelled his greed.
[email protected]
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