Grandson steals N.dollars 280 000 from pensioner grandfather

WINDHOEK, 29 JUN  – A 23-year-old Windhoek resident remains in custody after he was arrested last week for embezzling over N.dollars 280 000 from his grandfather over a period of three years.
Gustaf Ndeshikeya is alleged to have gained access to the bank card pin of Lolesius Emili, 81, in 2015 and since then has been withdrawing money without the elder’s knowledge until the day of his arrest.
Emili reportedly acquired the money through three incomes; his pension grant, retirement fund and current domestic work salary.
Confirming the incident to Nampa on Wednesday, Khomas Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Abner Agas said Ndeshikeya appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court last week and was granted bail of N.dollars 2 000, which he failed to pay.
Agas explained that the pensioner at one point trusted his grandchild and asked him to help withdraw money and since then the suspect repeatedly stole the ATM card.
“He would steal the card from time to time and withdraw, sometimes he would e-wallet to different numbers and withdraw later,” Agas explained.
He noted that the crime was only detected this year when Emili went to withdraw money and was informed that there is nothing in his bank account.
According to Agas, the case was already reported in January and the suspect promised to pay back the money in instalments, which he only did once and then stopped.
In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, a heartbroken Emili, who currently works three odd jobs since his retirement from TransNamib in 1990, said he never thought his grandchild could rip him off his hard-earned money.
The pensioner explained that in 2015, he called the suspect, whom he raised together with his wife from a tender age, from the north after failing Grade 10.
“That money I worked for many years, even in my old age cleaning yards and washing cars just to make enough for my family including him,” said Emili.
He explained that he only withdraws money four times a year when he visits his wife in the north, as he depends on his domestic work income for daily needs.
The old man said 2018 was his final year of working as he thought he had made enough money to sustain the family further.
“I am really heartbroken, I would not hang myself because of pain, death will find me in my sleep or walking because of thoughts,” he said.

NAMPA