The Namibian Police Force at Rundu on Monday arrested an employee of the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) for allegedly defrauding the government of about N$3 million. 

The NamPol Crime Investigations Coordinator in the Kavango East Region, Bonifatius Kanyetu, told Nampa on Tuesday that the accused, 42-year-old Anton Illarius, who was based at the NamRa Rundu office, allegedly unlawfully collected money by tampering with the tax system. 

Illarius allegedly erased taxpayers from the system, particularly those who owe the government millions of dollars in taxes, in exchange for money. 

According to Kanyetu, this happened between 2010 and 2017. 

The accused has reportedly been under investigation for quite some time, which led to his arrest at his workplace on Monday. 

He appeared in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court on the same day to answer charges of theft, fraud, and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. 

He is being represented by the Rundu-based lawyer, Bernhard Tjatjara. 

Illarius appeared before Magistrate Sonia Sampofu, who denied him bail due to the seriousness of the offence.

Sampofu said it would not be in the interest of the administration of justice for the accused to be released on bail. 

The matter was then postponed to October 25, 2022, to allow the accused to apply for formal bail.