Rundu – A 35-year-old man, Frederick Gariseb, appeared in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering a forged instrument.
Gariseb is accused of defrauding two prominent lodges in Rundu, namely Ngandu Lodge and Omashare Lodge, of a combined total of N$37,000 earlier this month.
According to court documents, Gariseb allegedly posed as a businessman to gain trust and access to accommodation and meals. On 3 January, he reportedly checked into Ngandu Lodge under this false pretense, leaving the establishment defrauded of N$18,438.
In a similar incident on 17 January, Gariseb allegedly targeted Omashare Lodge, where he is accused of running the same scheme and defrauding the business of N$18,441.
Mashare management has reported that an individual from Khomasdal, Windhoek, presented fake proof of payment documents to cover expenses incurred during their stay at the lodge. It is alleged that the individual checked out of the lodge before the manager uncovered the fraud and promptly notified the police.
In a separate incident last April, Gariseb promised to provide four boreholes to the residents of Suncity but has yet to fulfill this commitment. Reports suggest Gariseb leveraged media coverage of his pledge to deceive others.
Additionally, Gariseb was listed as one of the police’s most wanted suspects in 2020 for alleged theft by false pretenses.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Sonia Sampofu, who denied him bail due to the seriousness of the charges and concerns over the possibility of further offenses.
The case has been postponed to 6 March to allow authorities to complete their investigations. Meanwhile, Gariseb remains in custody.