Windhoek: High Court Judge Eileen Rakow on Monday sentenced former Ekonolux bookkeeper Amanda Jantjies and her husband Barnard Jantjies to 14 and nine years, respectively, for defrauding the transport company of over N$9 million. The couple faced 876 charges of theft and money laundering.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the State initially suggested an 18-year custodial sentence for the accused. Amanda, 58, and Barnard, 60, were convicted for stealing from the company between 2014 and 2018, using a company they owned to launder the money. Prosecutor Ian Malumani argued during submissions before sentencing that the offences were premeditated, driven by greed, and had a detrimental impact on the economy.

Malumani stated, "These type of crimes cripples the economy in the long run. The accused is convicted of a serious offence, and the amount involved is very high. The offence is prevalent, and the accused was placed in the position of trust."

During mitigation before sentencing, Amanda explained that she joined the transport company in 1996 as a clerk, with responsibilities such as selling tickets and maintaining attendance registers. Her evidence revealed that the fraudulent activities she and her husband engaged in started with relatively small amounts, unlawfully taking approximately N$19 389 in January 2014. However, the scheme escalated over time.

By November 2018, Amanda testified that she was overwhelmed by guilt and decided to confess to her employer, who promised a comprehensive investigation into the theft allegations. In January 2019, she was informed of her employment termination and later signed an acknowledgment of debt in February 2019, agreeing to repay N$80,000 each month.

Defence lawyer Veiko Alexander represented the couple throughout the trial.