ACC arrests two over alleged N$10,500 weeding subsidy fraud

By: Josia Shigwedha

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested and charged a senior agricultural technician and a community member in the Oshikoto Region over alleged corrupt practices dating back to 2017.

According to the ACC, Muliehi Moscow Neo (41), a Senior Agricultural Technician at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Land Reform, and Panduleni Hamunime (47) of Okadiva Village, were arrested following an investigation into the Government Weeding Subsidy Scheme.

The investigation found that Neo allegedly created false vouchers, inflating a payment to the Ndemutalelapo Supporting Group from N$7,500 to N$18,000. He then allegedly instructed the group—through Hamunime—to withdraw the full amount and hand over N$10,500, which he falsely claimed was his personal money mistakenly deposited into their account.

Hamunime, who was the group’s secretary, allegedly misled members by telling them the excess funds were meant for funeral benefits.

Neo faces 14 counts of contravening section 43(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act abuse of office for gratification,

or alternatively and 14 counts of fraud.

Meanwhile jointly Neo and Hamunime face Money laundering (section 4(b)(i) of the POCA Act),

alternatively money laundering (section 6 of the same Act) and Conspiracy to commit money laundering (section 18 of the Riotous Assemblies Act).

Both accused appeared in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and were granted N$5,000 bail each. Their case was postponed to 05 March 2026 for legal representation.