Alleged child trafficker in court after extradition

Nearly two years after the sentencing of his co-accused in one of Namibia's first cases of trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, Marthinus Pretorius has made his first court appearance. The South African citizen is accused of having raped, trafficked and assaulted three minor girls at his home in Swakopmund during 2012. He is charged with a total of 19 counts including rape, human trafficking and assault, read with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act. His co-accused, Johanna Lukas (24), was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment by Judge President Petrus Damaseb in August 2015 on counts of human trafficking and rape. Lukas sold the three minor girls to Pretorius on four occasions in 2012.The 46-year old Pretorius was extradited to Namibia last week and appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court on Friday. He allegedly fled to South Africa shortly after Lukas's arrest and was in hiding ever since. During his court appearance on Friday, Magistrate Conchita Olivier immediately transferred the matter to the High Court. State prosecutor Faith Chipepera-Nyaungwa said the State was opposed to bail being granted to the accused on the grounds that it would not be in the best interest of the public. She further argued that it is a serious case, the State has a strong case against the accused and that the accused poses a flight risk. Olivier did not grant bail to the accused and further informed him of his right to apply for legal aid. Pretorius will make his first appearance in the High Court in Windhoek on 23 January 2018.Lukas was convicted in June 2015 on five charges trafficking in persons, in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, and five counts of rape. Judge President Damaseb found that she had procured two underage girls in Swakopmund to be sexually exploited by Pretorius, in April, May and June 2012. The two girls, who were 13 and 14 at the time, testified in court during Lukas's trial that Pretorius gave them money for having intercourse with them, and that they gave some of that money to Lukas.JESSICA BOTES

Alleged child trafficker in court after extradition

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

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Alleged child trafficker in court after extradition

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Namibian Sun 2026-09-29

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