Moussongela gets 9 years for fraud
The Eenhana Magistrate's Court yesterday sentenced controversial Congolese pastor Pedro Marcelino Moussongela to nine years' imprisonment following his conviction on a charge of fraud.
Magistrate Helvi Shilemba further imposed a fine of N$16 000, or five years' imprisonment, on the other four counts of employing foreigners without work permits.
Moussongela was convicted last week on three charges of fraud and four charges of contravening the Immigration Act.
Moussongela falsified the documents of children born outside Namibia, whom he claimed to be his own, to conceal their true citizenship. These children later obtained Namibian documents after Moussongela misrepresented the late Teresia Tangi Iyambo as the mother of the children.
In March this year the court heard that Moussongela had facilitated the children's entry into Namibia from Angola. He is also guilty on four counts of employing foreigners as teachers at his Mennonite Brethren Community School at Omafo in the Ohangwena Region.
Last month the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court put on hold Moussongela's bail application on other charges of human trafficking, rape and assault by threat until the finalisation of yesterday's proceedings.
On 22 June he also appeared before the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on the same charges and the case was postponed to 1 March next year.
Following his arrest on 23 June last year a group of alleged victims of human trafficking made shocking allegations outside the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court during a protest against granting him bail.
Moussongela, who is the founder of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church and Mennonite Brethren Community School Namibia, allegedly used these institutions to sexually exploit and traffic desperate Namibians to Europe and other countries.
During several court sessions, Moussongela claimed the school was established for orphans and vulnerable children.
ILENI NANDJATO
Magistrate Helvi Shilemba further imposed a fine of N$16 000, or five years' imprisonment, on the other four counts of employing foreigners without work permits.
Moussongela was convicted last week on three charges of fraud and four charges of contravening the Immigration Act.
Moussongela falsified the documents of children born outside Namibia, whom he claimed to be his own, to conceal their true citizenship. These children later obtained Namibian documents after Moussongela misrepresented the late Teresia Tangi Iyambo as the mother of the children.
In March this year the court heard that Moussongela had facilitated the children's entry into Namibia from Angola. He is also guilty on four counts of employing foreigners as teachers at his Mennonite Brethren Community School at Omafo in the Ohangwena Region.
Last month the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court put on hold Moussongela's bail application on other charges of human trafficking, rape and assault by threat until the finalisation of yesterday's proceedings.
On 22 June he also appeared before the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on the same charges and the case was postponed to 1 March next year.
Following his arrest on 23 June last year a group of alleged victims of human trafficking made shocking allegations outside the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court during a protest against granting him bail.
Moussongela, who is the founder of the Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church and Mennonite Brethren Community School Namibia, allegedly used these institutions to sexually exploit and traffic desperate Namibians to Europe and other countries.
During several court sessions, Moussongela claimed the school was established for orphans and vulnerable children.
ILENI NANDJATO
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