The police in Otjozondjupa confirmed that a case of rape and theft is under investigation at Okahandja, where a 29-year-old male was allegedly raped by an 18-year-old male. 

The incident occurred on Wednesday, 5 January 2022, at about 23h00 in Nai-Aib in Okahandja.

The victim, whose name cannot be revealed due to the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, accused the police of not taking him seriously when he went to open a case. 

The victim claims that the Okahandja police did not render the immediate service he deserved based on the nature of his case.

“I went to the police station and told a police officer that I was raped. I was in a state of confusion because the person who raped is known to me, and I know his family. After he raped me, he took my N$800 from a small business I am running at home. The family paid my money back. I came at the police station at 07h00 and I didn’t get help until 14h00 when they took me to the hospital. One police officer told me to go home and come open a case the next day. I only opened the case on Thursday. I feel I didn’t get enough help from the police because I was raped by another man,” narrates the victim.

Otjozondjupa police spokesperson Maureen Mbeha confirmed the matter, saying preliminary findings indicate the victim reported the incident on Thursday at around 09h00 at the Okahandja crime investigation unit office. 

Mbeha defended that upon arrival, the victim informed the police he was not willing to open a case but opted to get the suspect warned, for the police to escort the victim to the hospital for PREP and demanded for his refund of N$800 the suspect allegedly stole from him.

She said the officer who attended to him advised him to lay charges if he so wish because of the seriousness of the case. 

Further, Mbeha noted the complainant opted not to open a case, citing he knows the suspect’s family very well and he does not intend to hurt them. 

“He asked the officer to call the family so that they could talk. The victim called the family using the officer’s phone. The suspect, together with the family, came and the matter was discussed. 

That discussion took them up to towards lunch hour. After that, the victim still wanted the police to escort him to the hospital; the officers informed him that he will be taken at 14h00 as doctors were on lunch. At 14h00, he was then taken to hospital for medical attention,” she gathered. 

On Thursday, at around 21h00, Mbeha said the officers were called by members
at the charge office that the victim has decided to lay charges against the
suspect. 

The case was then registered as per CR 49/01/2022 and the accused aged 18 was arrested on Friday morning. 

He appeared in the Okahandja Magistrate’s court on Monday, 10 January 2022, and he was remanded in custody pending further negotiations. 

His case was postponed to 16 March 2022. 

Police investigations into the matter continue.