Court official arrested over extortion attempt

A COURT interpreter on Tuesday became the second person to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court over an alleged attempt to extract a N$40 000 payment from a medical doctor in return for destroying or handing over supposedly incriminating documents to the doctor.

Albertino Jeremia (33) vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged extortion before he made a brief appearance before Magistrate Peter Kavaongelwa. Like his co-accused, Abnegus ‘Lucky’ Xoagub (37), who had appeared before the Magistrate on Monday, Jeremia was also released on warning.Xoagub was arrested in Windhoek on Saturday, allegedly after the Police had caught him in a trap set up after they were informed that he had tried to extort N$40 000 from a medical doctor from Katima Mulilo.Xoagub had allegedly contacted Dr CMJ Ward with an offer that if the doctor paid him N$40 000, he would hand the doctor a file of documents which formed the basis of allegations that the doctor had been submitting fraudulent claims to the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS).The doctor alerted the Police.It is claimed that Xoagub told Ward that he was employed in the Justice Ministry.On Monday, Xoagub admitted to Magistrate Kavaongelwa that he was guilty.He added that he had taken the Police to the High Court to point out an accomplice in the extortion bid.Jeremia was accused of having assisted Xoagub by providing him with a Justice Ministry rubber stamp.A rubber stamp was found at Jeremia’s home in Khomasdal when the Police searched the premises after his arrest on Monday.Jeremia, who works as a casual interpreter in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and the High Court, and Xoagub will appear in court again on July 12.Like his co-accused, Abnegus ‘Lucky’ Xoagub (37), who had appeared before the Magistrate on Monday, Jeremia was also released on warning.Xoagub was arrested in Windhoek on Saturday, allegedly after the Police had caught him in a trap set up after they were informed that he had tried to extort N$40 000 from a medical doctor from Katima Mulilo.Xoagub had allegedly contacted Dr CMJ Ward with an offer that if the doctor paid him N$40 000, he would hand the doctor a file of documents which formed the basis of allegations that the doctor had been submitting fraudulent claims to the Public Service Employees Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS).The doctor alerted the Police.It is claimed that Xoagub told Ward that he was employed in the Justice Ministry.On Monday, Xoagub admitted to Magistrate Kavaongelwa that he was guilty.He added that he had taken the Police to the High Court to point out an accomplice in the extortion bid.Jeremia was accused of having assisted Xoagub by providing him with a Justice Ministry rubber stamp.A rubber stamp was found at Jeremia’s home in Khomasdal when the Police searched the premises after his arrest on Monday.Jeremia, who works as a casual interpreter in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court and the High Court, and Xoagub will appear in court again on July 12.