Omaruru acting CEO suspected of ‘cooking the books’ …as he’s found in office on a Saturday with an accountant amid financial probe

Renthia Kaimbi

Finance manager of the Omaruru municipality, Phillip Domingos, is suspected of “cooking the books” after he was found in office on Saturday with an accountant, amid a pending investigation into financial irregularities that led to the suspension of the council’s substantive chief executive officer, Valentinus Sindongo, about two weeks ago.

Domingos, who was appointed acting CEO of the council following Sindongo’s suspension, denied any wrongdoing, saying they were busy preparing annual financial statements.

However, Omaruru mayor Eberth Gariseb told the Windhoek Observer that the council was looking to replace Domingos in his acting duties, as the situation has raised further alarm bells.

The incident has deepened concerns over governance at the embattled local authority, which is already under a cloud of suspicion regarding its financial management.