Namibian Court Hands Down Prison Sentence for Theft and Money Laundering

A recent court judgment in Namibia has seen an individual sentenced to prison for a range of crimes, including theft and money laundering. Here are the key details:

Composite Sentencing Approach

The judge took a unique approach by combining multiple counts together for sentencing due to their similarity and modus operandi.

Key Considerations

• The accused’s financial status played a significant role in determining the sentence.
• Imprisonment was deemed inevitable on the money-laundering count, which carries a maximum fine of N$100 million or 30 years’ imprisonment.

Sentence Details

The judge ordered that the sentences be served concurrently to mitigate the cumulative effect of individual sentences. The breakdown is as follows:

Counts 3-34: Theft

• Combined sentence for theft: 13 years’ imprisonment
• 5 years suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not convicted of theft without the option of a fine

Count 35: Money Laundering

• Sentence: 6 years’ imprisonment to be served concurrently with the sentence imposed on counts 3-34