Ongwediva man Arrested for Allegedly Faking Crash to Claim Insurance
By TUW
Police investigations in the Oshana Region have led to the arrest of a 39-year-old Ongwediva man after evidence allegedly revealed that a motor vehicle accident was deliberately staged in an attempt to claim insurance compensation.
The Namibian Police confirmed that the case was registered at the Ongwediva Police Station on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, at approximately 09h00. The suspect, who was driving a VW Polo, initially told officers that the crash had taken place earlier that morning at around 01h50 in Elyambala village, near Omhalanga Mills.
According to the initial report, the driver claimed he was travelling from the southern direction when an approaching vehicle with bright headlights allegedly blinded him, forcing him to swerve off the road and collide with a tree to avoid a head-on crash.
However, police said the investigation uncovered contradictions in the suspect’s account. Video footage obtained during the probe allegedly shows the vehicle being driven into a tree on two separate occasions. The footage further indicates that another vehicle was stationary near the scene, and no oncoming traffic was present at the time of the incident.
Authorities also established that the matter was not reported immediately. The suspect allegedly removed the vehicle from the scene and only reported the incident the following day. Police believe false information was later submitted as part of an insurance claim.
The video evidence has since been officially recorded and secured as part of the investigation.
The suspect has been taken into custody and is scheduled to appear before the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on 30 January 2026. Police have reiterated that attempts to deceive insurers and provide misleading information to law enforcement will be treated as criminal offences.
