Pension Fund official suspended over ‘fraud’

THE Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has suspended a senior official after fraud was uncovered in the fund’s Ondangwa office.

Public Relations Manager Elvis Nashilongo said the fund had suspended its senior benefits administrator at Ondangwa, Naphtal Cleopas, with immediate effect. An amount of about N$15 550 is believed to be involved.Cleopas was arrested on Tuesday.Nashilongo suggested that GIPF members should deal directly with other fund administrators until the outcome of the Police investigation was known.He called on anyone who might have any fraud complaint related to the GIPF to contact the fund or the Police.Nashiolongo said: “The decision to suspend Mr Cleopas is within the framework of our code of conduct and the fraud prevention policy that we use as a weapon to fight fraud and corruption across all structures of our institution”.An amount of about N$15 550 is believed to be involved. Cleopas was arrested on Tuesday. Nashilongo suggested that GIPF members should deal directly with other fund administrators until the outcome of the Police investigation was known. He called on anyone who might have any fraud complaint related to the GIPF to contact the fund or the Police. Nashiolongo said: “The decision to suspend Mr Cleopas is within the framework of our code of conduct and the fraud prevention policy that we use as a weapon to fight fraud and corruption across all structures of our institution”.