Businessman acquitted of rape
The Oshakati Regional Court has acquitted 39-year-old businessman Sindano Hango of rape.
The court found there was not enough evidence to convict Hango, who was accused of raping his cousin at a relative's house at Otuwala village in the Oshana Region on 10 October 2014.
Magistrate Leopold Hangalo delivered his verdict yesterday.
Hango did not deny having intercourse with the complainant, but argued through his lawyer Frieda Kishi that they were in a sexual relationship and that she fabricated the rape story after he failed to give her all the transport money he had promised her.
Hangalo said apart from the alleged victim, no State witnesses had corroborated that a rape had taken place, while a defence witness had testified about a relationship between Hango and the complainant.
The complainant testified that between 10:00 and 11:00 on the morning of 10 October 2014, Hango came into the house where she was staying and found her in the bathroom.
She said while she was in the toilet she saw Hango standing at the door, which was open as she was alone at home. When she saw him, she closed the door, and after finishing, she went to the sitting room where she was busy cleaning.
She was wearing a shirt and a tight pair of jeans. She said Hango followed her into the sitting room.
After they chatted she served him meat. According to the complainant Hango then grabbed her hands and pushed her onto the couch. He then jumped on her and removed her jeans and underwear, before starting to rape her, she testified, adding he had used a condom.
She said she fell to the ground and ran away naked. She said Hango followed her into one of the rooms, where he raped her.
Hango testified he told the complainant that he had a hangover from his mother's birthday party the previous night. He said the complainant warmed up some meat and gave it to him to eat and later they went into a room where they had sex.
Hango also told the court that prior to this, the complaint had asked him for transport money to travel to the south, and on that day he brought her some money and a gift.
He said the complaint asked for N$1 000, but he had only given her N$420 and promised to give her the remaining N$580 at Oshakati.
Hango was arrested on 28 October 2014 and released on bail of N$6 000 on 12 November in the same year.
Nelao Ya France prosecuted.
ILENI NANDJATO
The court found there was not enough evidence to convict Hango, who was accused of raping his cousin at a relative's house at Otuwala village in the Oshana Region on 10 October 2014.
Magistrate Leopold Hangalo delivered his verdict yesterday.
Hango did not deny having intercourse with the complainant, but argued through his lawyer Frieda Kishi that they were in a sexual relationship and that she fabricated the rape story after he failed to give her all the transport money he had promised her.
Hangalo said apart from the alleged victim, no State witnesses had corroborated that a rape had taken place, while a defence witness had testified about a relationship between Hango and the complainant.
The complainant testified that between 10:00 and 11:00 on the morning of 10 October 2014, Hango came into the house where she was staying and found her in the bathroom.
She said while she was in the toilet she saw Hango standing at the door, which was open as she was alone at home. When she saw him, she closed the door, and after finishing, she went to the sitting room where she was busy cleaning.
She was wearing a shirt and a tight pair of jeans. She said Hango followed her into the sitting room.
After they chatted she served him meat. According to the complainant Hango then grabbed her hands and pushed her onto the couch. He then jumped on her and removed her jeans and underwear, before starting to rape her, she testified, adding he had used a condom.
She said she fell to the ground and ran away naked. She said Hango followed her into one of the rooms, where he raped her.
Hango testified he told the complainant that he had a hangover from his mother's birthday party the previous night. He said the complainant warmed up some meat and gave it to him to eat and later they went into a room where they had sex.
Hango also told the court that prior to this, the complaint had asked him for transport money to travel to the south, and on that day he brought her some money and a gift.
He said the complaint asked for N$1 000, but he had only given her N$420 and promised to give her the remaining N$580 at Oshakati.
Hango was arrested on 28 October 2014 and released on bail of N$6 000 on 12 November in the same year.
Nelao Ya France prosecuted.
ILENI NANDJATO
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