Estate administrator’s fraud trial to start in October

THE case of a local estate administrator who stands accused of fraud and embezzling funds belonging to orphaned children between 2015 and 2017, is now ready for trial.

The 44-year-old Mervin Kozonguizi made another appearance yesterday before High Court Judge Kobus Miller during a pre-trial conference of case management review when an agreement was reached between the prosecution and the defence for the start of the trial proper on 12 October 2020.

As per the agreement reached by the estate administrator’s Windhoek-based defence lawyer Hipura Ujaha and State Advocate Domonic Lisulo, the proceedings of the trial are scheduled to run until 23 October 2020.

Ujaha also informed the court that the accused’s legal team has now sought the assistance of local senior defence lawyer James Diedericks for the trial.

Kozonguizi is free on bail of N$100 000, which was extended until his next court appearance.

A summary of substantial facts contained in the indictment alleges that Kozonguizi defrauded the Master of the High Court between 2016 and January 2017 by pretending that he was entitled to receive funds from the estate of the late Gustav Tjiuiju.

It is alleged that he received nearly N$7.1 million from this estate while he was not entitled to the money.

It is further alleged that he also defrauded the Master of the High Court on 05 December 2015 by pretending that he was entitled to N$2 million from the estate of the late Yolandi Dorothy Beukes.

The accused operates under the name Kozonguizi and Associates and administered the deceased estates registered at the Master of the High Court on behalf of beneficiaries.

He was arrested on 15 January 2018 by investigators attached to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).