An Ondangwa-based lawyer continues to maintain his innocence in the High Court, where he is accused of submitting fraudulent claims amounting to N$3.5 million to the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund.
Attorney Arumugam Thambapilai maintains that when he submitted the claims he acted on the instruction of his clients.
“I acted professionally as a legal practitioner and have never submitted fraudulent claims,” he said.
The 68-year-old key suspect was last cross-examined about the evidence he gave about the procedures he used when dealing with accident claims he submitted to the MVA Fund between February 2001 and September 2005 from his Ondangwa-based law firm Thambapilai & Associates.
The evidence involves seven claims he submitted.
The lawyer denies the 16 charges against him, including six charges of fraud, seven counts of forgery and uttering, two counts of theft and a charge of attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.
He is being charged together with Timoteus Amutenya Sakeus, Linda Shipalanga, Martin Eriki, Festus Shidume and George Hatutale.
They are also denying the charges.
Thambapilai said last week that he only came to hear in court about the fact that the complainants did not receive the money claimed on their behalf.
He further disputes the fact that though accounts were open, the clients did not receive money.
He also refutes the allegation that no accounts were opened for clients.
Thambapilai added that when minors were involved, he advised clients to open an account.
The trial continues before Judge A.K.J Simpson
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