Windhoek — Amos Warren Mumbone (42), who was arrested in April in connection with the suspected laundering of N$30 million, has been hospitalised.

Mumbone was arrested after N$30 million was mysteriously deposited into his bank account through an ATM machine at Katima Mulilo, followed by a number of substantial withdrawals.

During his last court appearance, Mumbone, who has a long history of psychiatric and mental illness, was ordered to go for mental evaluations. Yesterday, Prosecutor Samantha Diergaardt informed Magistrate Ingrid Unengu that the accused could not attend court.

"However at present there is no conformation whether he is admitted in hospital for purposes of the psychiatric observation or another ailment," Diergaardt said.

The prosecutor said that she would follow up with the investigating officer. The matter was remanded to January 7, 2013 for the mental health report.

During his last appearance, Mumbone's legal representative, Brian Kauta, also informed the court that the accused has a history of mental illness. Kauta handed in a previous report regarding the mental state of the accused.

Mumbone was arrested on April 20 when the bank where he has an account became suspicious of his request to withdraw N$69 000 for the purpose of purchasing a vehicle. He did not give notice to the bank in accordance with bank procedures, and apparently wore strange clothes and appeared at the bank looking 'not so well'.

It is alleged that the N$30 million was deposited into his account on April 6 this year at an ATM and that the bank mysteriously cleared the money. Thereafter, the man apparently went on a spending spree.

"He goes to Shoprite, Style and KFC swiping. As we speak now, there is N$29 million in his account. We don't know what he did with the N$1 million," Windhoek Police Station Commander, Chief Inspector Robert Sanjahi, told New Era in May. Bank officials alerted the commercial crimes unit of the police, which led to Mumbone's immediate arrest.

Mumbone has claimed that the N$30 million was legitimate money acquired from a private insurance policy his late father had taken out on his behalf since his infancy. He further claimed his father worked in America and that he owns a house in Washington D.C.