Call to release Rebebe’s ‘workers’ from custody
Rundu community activist Frans Moyo has called upon the State to release six people arrested after money was transferred into their bank accounts - allegedly by fugitive Nico Rebebe.
The former Bank Windhoek employee stands accused of stealing millions from his employer.
Moyo said the six - who were allegedly promised jobs as farmworkers by Rebebe and made to open bank accounts into which their salaries were to be paid - should be treated like witnesses, not criminals.
“In my opinion, these are victims of Rebebe. He found people to trick so that he could channel his money and they fell victim to it, through them looking for employment,” he said.
“There’s no case against these guys. Let them go home and be called when needed to go stand in as witnesses, not as accomplices,” he said, adding that these are poor people who were used as pawns in a crime they did not know exists.
N$20k reward
Today marks 18 days since Rebebe was last seen at work, with rumours now rife that he fled the country to avoid arrest.
According to spokesperson Samuel Linyondi, Bank Windhoek is not at liberty to share information with the media regarding police investigations.
“We are unable to provide comments on ongoing police investigations due to the sensitive nature of the matter and the need to maintain the integrity of the process,” he said.
The bank has offered a N$20 000 reward for information that leads to Rebebe’s arrest.
Namibian Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, yesterday said there are no leads yet on the fugitive’s whereabouts.
Rebebe allegedly stole more than N$2 million from the bank by transferring varying amounts to bank accounts he set up for his supposed employees.
After his ‘employees’ opened their accounts, Rebebe allegedly confiscated their bank cards. He then deposited N$500 000 into the accounts of Joao Limbo Joseph, Kamberuka Mukoso Lukas and Lukas Ihemba, and N$200 000 each into the accounts of Mathias Mukuve Kanyanga, Daniel Kusumwa Goncalves and Linyando Kandjimi.
Rebebe himself is said to have taken N$500 000 in cash before fleeing.
[email protected]
The former Bank Windhoek employee stands accused of stealing millions from his employer.
Moyo said the six - who were allegedly promised jobs as farmworkers by Rebebe and made to open bank accounts into which their salaries were to be paid - should be treated like witnesses, not criminals.
“In my opinion, these are victims of Rebebe. He found people to trick so that he could channel his money and they fell victim to it, through them looking for employment,” he said.
“There’s no case against these guys. Let them go home and be called when needed to go stand in as witnesses, not as accomplices,” he said, adding that these are poor people who were used as pawns in a crime they did not know exists.
N$20k reward
Today marks 18 days since Rebebe was last seen at work, with rumours now rife that he fled the country to avoid arrest.
According to spokesperson Samuel Linyondi, Bank Windhoek is not at liberty to share information with the media regarding police investigations.
“We are unable to provide comments on ongoing police investigations due to the sensitive nature of the matter and the need to maintain the integrity of the process,” he said.
The bank has offered a N$20 000 reward for information that leads to Rebebe’s arrest.
Namibian Police spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, yesterday said there are no leads yet on the fugitive’s whereabouts.
Rebebe allegedly stole more than N$2 million from the bank by transferring varying amounts to bank accounts he set up for his supposed employees.
After his ‘employees’ opened their accounts, Rebebe allegedly confiscated their bank cards. He then deposited N$500 000 into the accounts of Joao Limbo Joseph, Kamberuka Mukoso Lukas and Lukas Ihemba, and N$200 000 each into the accounts of Mathias Mukuve Kanyanga, Daniel Kusumwa Goncalves and Linyando Kandjimi.
Rebebe himself is said to have taken N$500 000 in cash before fleeing.
[email protected]
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