PIC NW Experts Acquire Training on Forensic Investigations and Digital Case Handling
Staff of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator North-West Region took part in an international training on Forensic Investigation and Digital Case Handling: Integrating Technology in the Anti-Corruption Ecosystem from 21 JULY -24 JULY 2026, in Windhoek, Namibia. The three-man delegation from the office of the Public Independent Conciliator North-West Region attended the training organized by the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) in Windhoek, Namibia. This programme forms part of the AORC capacity-building programme funded by the African Renaissance and International Corporation Fund (ARF) of South Africa. It is also supported through an approved International Ombudsman(IOI) Project.
It was aimed at strengthening African Ombudsman Institutions on forensic investigations and digital case handling: Integrating technology into ombudsman work. The training took place at the conference hall of the Country Club Resort, Windhoek, Namibia. The training was attended by representatives of thirty-four (34) Ombudsman institutions in Africa (Ombudsman heads, investigators, legal officers, case management staff, and other oversight personnel).
OBJECTIVES
- To respond directly to the need of Ombudsman institutions to investigate well, which is at the heart of their value to the citizens they serve and the government they hold to account.
- To strengthen ombudsman institutions on forensic methods, proper evidence handling, and sound digital case management, which are essential to the credibility, efficiency, and impact of every investigation.
- To enable ombudsman institutions to share knowledge, experiences, and challenges they face in their work to improve their functioning.
The training featured the following activities amongst others;
- The foundations of Ombudsman investigation and public Interest case handling,
- Forensic investigation methods, evidence case handling and practical document analysis,
- Digital case handling, reporting, technology integration and cyber security,
- Practical approach in documenting red flags, financial records, and evidentiary standards in Ombudsman investigations,
- Chain of custody, evidence integrity and analysis – using modern techniques
- The responsible use of specialist support in complex investigations,
- Litigation readiness and courtroom exposure, and
- Train the trainer application and practical institutional follow-up.
His Lordship, Cllr Sakarias Uunona, Mayor of Windhoek, Hon Anne Murayiwe, the acting president of AOMA, and the Deputy Inspector General of the Government of Uganda, Welcomed participants and expressed joy at hosting the Ombudsman Delegation. He appreciated the organizers for their efforts in ensuring that the training was feasible and went further to brief the audience on the history of Windhoek and the sociological composition of the city and wished all the Delegates present a fruitful learning process and a happy stay in the City.There was also a keynote address on the anti-corruption ecosystem in promoting sustainable development by the Minister of Justice and Labour Relations, followed by an institutional introduction and presentations from the facilitators.
The first presentation was on the Modern Ombudsman as an Investigator, by Hon. Anne Murayiwe, Acting President, AOMA, Deputy Inspector General of the Government of Uganda. Presenting the subject matter of the training, the Acting President of AOMA emphasized digital transformation and advancement in technology as a challenge in Ombudsman work. She continued by saying that public administration is driving towards a digital world; therefore, the challenge is to ensure that institutions remain equipped with the functional tools (digital equipment) to foster institutional management.
The second presentation was on Complaint intake, triage, and risk-based case selection-triggers of forensic investigations by Hon. John Walters, former Ombudsman of Namibia. He outlines the different channels through which a complaint could be brought to the attention of an Ombudsman institution. He throws light on the different phases of an investigation while bringing out the values guiding the operations and functioning of an ombudsman with emphasis on fairness, objectivity, Patience, active listening, confidentiality, etc.
The next presentation was on Investigation standards: procedural fairness, natural justice and due process by Hon. Stephan Tiroyankgosi, Ombudsman of Botswana, Regional Coordinator: Southern Africa, AOMA. He pointed out the various aspects of procedural fairness in an investigation, with emphasis on the right to be heard, stating that natural justice should not be subjected to any form of conflict of interest. Justice must not only be done but also seen to be done. Investigations are unique to institutions or organizations; as such, investigative procedures should not be copied. On the aspect of due process, the presenter points out timeliness, equal opportunity to be heard for both parties, as determinant factors in the process of investigation, and that, in the end, let justice and protection of human rights be observed. He concluded by saying that the implementation of these standards will strengthen or gain confidence in our institutions.
Following was a presentation on Investigation approach: planning and scoping by Hon. Alexis Butamba Mbina, Ombudsman of Gabon, Deputy Treasurer of AOMA.
Proceeding with the presentation, he remarked that for good planning to be made, there is a need for the investigator to determine whether the complaint is about an action, omission, or malfunctioning of an institutional authority. Planning should be communicated to enable follow-up; the investigator should identify the risk of witnesses, whistleblowers, and complainants. He concludes by saying that digital instruments play three vital roles in an investigation. The system of classification helps to better organize cases and facilitates traceability; the geographical studies help to determine the zones or scope of work, and lastly, the platform of information helps to identify whistleblower and helps determine their reliability. Therefore, the strength of an Ombudsman does not lie in the Power or Authority that he or she has but in the rigor and methodology used.
Presentation on Evidence gathering, handling, and interviewing techniques by Dr. GERRIT Jordaan. The presenter points out documents, videos, electronic files, photos, etc, as the different types and methods to obtain evidence during investigation. He continued by saying that evidence should be handled in the most legal way possible. He concluded by adding that conclusions should not be drawn on evidence at first sight and that investigators should not give meaning or link evidence to any information during investigation; they should rely on facts.
Contextualization of the training programme was presented by Adv Kholeka Gcaleka, AORC Chairperson and Public Protector of South Africa. She enlightened participants on the context of the training on forensic investigation. The Ombudsman of South Africa started by throwing some light on the history of AOMA, revealing AOMA as a product of early regional conferences held in Khartoum in Sudan, operating under the initial concept of African Centers of Ombudsmen. The body later on formalized its structure on June 26, 2001, in Victoria, Seychelles, and its initial statutory text was drafted in Windhoek, Namibia. Therefore, it was at the 8th Regional Conference in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, that Delegates ratified the statutory texts and formally established the Organization under the name AOMA. Since then, AOMA has made some achievements, with the increase in the membership of the organization, the creation of the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) hosted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa with the objective of driving training, research, and advocacy. She added that the AOMA has partnerships with the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and the African Union (AU). She concluded by quoting the South African President who said: “Let all Africans leaders come together to address the problems of Africa”.
The last presentation/remarks were on Corruption prevention measures to improve service delivery and Effective Prosecution-led investigation in the fight against corruption by Mr. Paulus Noa, Director-General, Anti-corruption Commission of Namibia, and Adv Maetha Imalwa, Prosecutor-General of Namibia.
The presenters in their respective presentations showed different channels of combating corruption. They emphasized that the most important thing is not combating corruption but preventing the practice of corruption. To prevent corruption, there is a need to put in place stronger oversight institutions and mobilize public participation. Unjustified wealth and money laundering are indicators of corruption. He highlighted that denunciations of corrupt practices at every level, even within families, should be a measure to curb corruption. Their conclusions bring to the fact that no legal framework can substitute for ethical leadership. The fight against corruption is for the brave, and being brave was never meant to be easy.
On day two, The first presentation was on Internal controls and preventive measures by Ms. Melanie Harrison, Country Leader: Deloitte. She pointed out the three types of control measures: preventive control, detective control, and corrective control. Preventive control should be designed around what is wrong, and controls should be linked to meaningful risk. Preventive control reduces avoidable complaints, detective control reveals exceptions and bottlenecks, corrective control converts failures to learning, and monitoring keeps control alive.
This was followed by a presentation on the forensic investigation cycle and methodology-an overview by Mr. Enrico Hamasep, Forensic Manager, Deloitte.
Reminding the participants of the values and principles governing the Ombudsman investigation, the presenter dwelled much on what makes an investigation forensic and the outcome of the investigation. He pointed out that an investigation is forensic when it applies scientific methods, strict evidence handling, and legal standards to uncover facts for use in an investigation. He concluded by stating that the most important thing is to separate inference and ideas from facts because facts are determinants of every investigation.
The next presentation was on Chain of custody, evidence integrity and analysis, using modern techniques and Practical document examination, documentary red flags and analysis by Ms Lehena Nel, ACFE Namibia. Following the illustrations on how to analyze using modern technology, she advised that with digital evidence it is always important to go back to the source of the information generated to be able to establish facts, identify persons responsible, corroborate allegations, ensure fair decision-making, and assist prosecution in disciplinary or civil claims. She concluded that technology should make decisions more traceable and not merely faster.
A presentation was done on Expert evidence and working with specialists- identifying the root cause by Adv John Walters, ACFE Board Member, and Hon Madeleine Nirere, Ombudsman Rwanda, stating that all artificial intelligence-generated information should be treated as a claim to be tested.
Some practical work was applied: assessing evidence in Ombudsman investigations by Hon.George Robert, Ombudsman of Seychelles.
The expert outlined the standard operating procedure for handling digital evidence, which establishes a consistent, defensible, and auditable process for identifying, securing, collecting, preserving, examining, analyzing, reporting, disclosing, retaining, and disposing of digital evidence.
The next presentation was on Cybersecurity, data protection and technology integration- the Namibian experience by Dr Sadrag Shihomeka, Media Ombudsman of Namibia, and Professor Manoj Maharaj, University of KwaZulu-Natal. It aimed at showing the importance of digitization in general in the work of an Ombudsman and how impactful it has been within the Namibian Ombudsman institution. Adding that working with digital experts and introducing protective software to protect data and information are imperatives for the protection of data against cyber-crimes and fraud.
From digital case handling to digital collaboration: Building an AI-enabled Public-Private Partnership Ecosystem for collective intelligence by Mr. Melvin Yogolingam, Board Member, ACFE, and Chief Executive, Fin Crime and AI Strategy, Merlynn Intelligence Technologies. This presentation was centered around data protection and demonstrations on how the digital management of complaint functions.
Investigation reporting: legal and forensic standards by Hon Grace Malaria, Ombudsman of Malawi. This presentation was a summary of the importance of forensic investigation, the steps taken, and how it can be carried out on issues like financial fraud, embezzlement, and cyber fraud. Therefore, investigation must meet the standards of preserving the integrity of evidence, digital preservation of evidence, and employ experts’ knowledge in order to bring out defensible evidence.
We had presentations on the Findings, recommendations, and remedial action, Hon. Basilius Dyakugha, Ombudsman of Namibia, Litigation readiness and courtroom exposure, by Mr. Charles Orinda Dulo, Chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, Kenya.
The training ended with a trainers session using the toolkit, launch of the virtual Faculty by Prof Thuli Madonsela, Social Justice Chair, University of Stellenbosch, and a participant appraisal done by Hon Bashir Abubakar, Ombudsman of Nigeria, Deputy Secretary-General of AOMA. The efforts and hard work of the Executive Committee of AOMA for standing the test of time was recognized in ensuring that the vision and objectives of the Association are realized. The training ended with networking.