OMUTHIYA - Three separate cases of rape involving minors were reported to the Oshikoto police in one week, and only one of the suspects has so far been arrested while the other two are still at large, although their identities are known to the police.

According to a regional crime report, a 10-year-old girl was on Sunday raped while on her way home from the cuca shops where she was sent to recharge a cellphone.

The suspect who was hiding in a bush suddenly pounced on the victim, lifted her and carried her into nearby bushes where he proceeded to rape her under coercive circumstances.

“The victim was seriously injured and admitted to Omuthiya state hospital,” stated the report.
The incident happened around sunset at Otatashe village. The victim is a Grade 3 learner at Otatashe Combined School. The police launched a manhunt for the suspect.

A similar incident happened at Oshikukutu village last Friday, where a 13-year-old mentally challenged girl was allegedly raped, and the suspect is also still at large.

“It is alleged the victim went to a cuca shop where she was lured. He then took the victim who is mentally challenged into the bush and had sexual intercourse under coercive circumstances without her consent,” stated the crime report.

Wilbald Shigwedha, 24, was arrested last week at Elambo village in Onkumbula area, for allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 10-year-old girl. According to the police, the incident took place last week Wednesday around 20h00 in the kitchen area where the suspect and victim were alone. They both lived in the same house.

The victim is a Grade 3 learner at Elambo Combined School. The suspect is a relative to the husband of the victim’s aunt who was away at the time of the incident and her husband was also not around.
In an unrelated crime, a case of malicious damage and assault through threat was opened against Shipandeni Elago for allegedly smashing his mother’s cellphone. It is valued at N$200.

“The incident happened on Sunday around 21h00 at Iikuku village, where the suspect grabbed Monika Else’s (54) phone and smashed it. He then pushed the complainant to the ground and threatened to beat her up,” stated the police report.

The suspect was arrested and appeared in Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.