Four people accused of staging deaths and submitting fraudulent insurance claims worth millions of Namibian dollars appeared before the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court last week.
Mervin Kahiva (39), Operi Zamuee (36), Zullnolla Zamuee (38) and Alfons Mac-Henry Zamuee (37) are facing charges of fraud, alternatively theft, forgery and uttering a forged instrument, as well as money laundering in contravention of Section 4 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act 29 of 2003. The accused were involved in a scheme to defraud an insurance company by falsely claiming that certain people had died to obtain insurance and funeral payouts. According to the allegations, Operi Zamuee and her former husband, Alfons Mac-Henry Zamuee, took out multiple life insurance and funeral policies on each other before allegedly submitting false claims following purported deaths.
The alleged scheme is said to have resulted in losses exceeding N$5 million. It is alleged that the accused received N$50 000 in 2020 after submitting a fraudulent claim. However, the person whose identity was allegedly used in connection with the claim was later listed as a beneficiary on another policy in 2025.
In 2021, the suspects allegedly claimed N$3 million from a life insurance policy in the wife’s name and a further N$2 million from another life insurance policy. The allegations further include a N$72 000 funeral policy claim in 2025, while in 2026 the accused allegedly submitted a claim for N$1.8 million from another life insurance policy. The matter was postponed to 26 November for plea in terms of Section 119. Kahiva and Alfons Mac-Henry Zamuee remain in custody, while Operi Zamuee and Zullnolla Zamuee were each granted bail of N$20 000.
Their bail has been extended until 26 November. As part of her bail conditions, Operi Zamuee may not leave Swakopmund or vacate her residence without informing the detective inspector handling the case. She was ordered to surrender all travel documents within 28 hours and may not apply for new travel documents pending the finalisation of the matter. She must also report to the Swakopmund Police Station every Friday between 8:00 and 20:00. The court further ordered her not to directly or indirectly influence, threaten or attempt to influence any identified witness or interfere with investigations.
Zullnolla Zamuee was granted similar bail conditions. She may not leave the Windhoek District or vacate her residence without informing the investigating detective. She must surrender all travel documents within 28 hours, may not apply for new travel documents while the matter is pending, and must report to the Klein Windhoek Police Station every Friday between 8:00 and 20:00. She was also ordered not to directly or indirectly influence, threaten or attempt to influence any identified witness or interfere with investigations.
The allegations against the four accused have not been proven in court, and they remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
By Sharlien Tjambari
