6 December 2011 12:15 pm
WINDHOEK - The matter in which five foreigners and a Namibian stand accused of using counterfeit ATM cards resumed in the High Court yesterday.
The accused are Satheeskumar Thulasithas, a Sri Lankan, Pararasasingam Sarangan, British national, Travotta Mekaundapi Tjuiju, Namibian, Abdul Kader Jamal Mohamed, a Singaporean and Anthony Suresh Kumar Stanis also, a Sri Lankan.
The foreigners allegedly entered and exited Namibia between March 18 2007 and August 14 2007.
Court documents indicate that local banks such as Bank Windhoek and Standard Bank retrieved cards from their teller machines that appeared to be counterfeit and an investigation was launched.
Yesterday, Emmerenthia Farmer, who was a waitress at New Cafe Central where the men used to be regular customers, testified on the luxurious lifestyle that she and the men and their friends; some of whom weren't implicated in the case, lived.
This included drives to lodges and frequent visits to Club Ladidas, where they sat in the VIP room, allegedly paid for by Thulasithas.
At the Napwu Guesthouse in Suiderhof where the accused were residing, about U$82,850 was found, as well as a dual-sided colour PVC card printer with cards in the slot of the machine.
One side of the cards had the Bank Windhoek colours and logo, while on the other side the cards were white.
Four boxes with white plastic cards, a magnetic strip reader/recorder, label printers, a laptop, printing cards software, and numerous cellphones were also found at the guesthouse.
Sarangan was arrested on August 7 2007 in the early morning hours at a shopping centre in Katutura while withdrawing money from an ATM of Bank Windhoek.
Thulasithas was arrested when he came to pick up Sarangan. The men were found with large amounts of Namibian dollars, US dollars and euros, according to the charge sheet.
An invitation letter and a photo of Tjiuiju were found at the guesthouse that led to his arrest on August 7 2007. Mohamed was also arrested the same day, at Hosea Kutako International Airport. Stanis was arrested on September 26 2007.
The matter is continuing.
Judge Alfred Siboleka is presiding. Deputy Prosecutor-General Annemarie Lategan, assisted by State Advocate Erick Moyo represents the State, while Sisa Namandje represents Thulasithas, Sarangan and Stanis.
Defence lawyer Brownell Uirab represents Tuiju and Mohamed. (Source: newera.com)