Hertta-Maria Amutenja
A well known Traditional healer from Oshana region is under investigation after a 61-year-old woman registered a case of theft with the Namibian Police, claiming that the said traditional healer swindled her out of N$116 000 last Friday.
According to the Spokesperson of the Namibian Police in Oshana Region, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo, the incident happened at the traditional healer’s house in Ongwediva.
“It’s alleged that the complainant has a son that is a psychiatric patient for some years now. They have also seen several traditional healers before they were referred to a certain healer,” said Aiyambo.
The pensioner allegedly met with the healer at his house where they came to an agreement for the healer to start treating the son.
“They met and agreed on the amount the pensioner needed to pay in order or the healer to start treating the son. N$400 was for consultation and N$8 000 for the treatment,” Aiyambo said, adding that the complainant paid both amounts.However, while the doctor was busy treating the victim’s son, the healer told her that she also needed treatment together with her son.
“The Doctor further told the pensioner that if she wants to be treated and wants him to remove all the ‘snakes’ in her son’s body, she would need to pay an extra N$100 000.
She then went to withdraw the money from a bank and paid the healer.
After treating the elderly lady and her son at their house, the healer gave the pensioner herbs and a powder to use at home. There, she realized that she had fallen victim to a scam.
The Namibian police arrested the healer, who has since returned the full amount to the pensioner. The victim, according to Aiyambo withdrew the charges.
