Extradited rapist to face escape charge

A convicted rapist, who walked out of the Windhoek police station holding cells two years ago and who has now been extradited from South Africa, will likely today make a brief appearance on a charge of escaping from unlawful custody.Charles Namiseb (36), who was extradited on Friday, escaped on 16 March 2016, following his conviction on 29 February 2016 together with Edwin Tourob (36) for brutally attacking an elderly couple and violently raping the woman at Uis in Erongo Region. They were convicted of rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.Constable Festus Shihepo, 32, faced charges for allegedly aiding Namiseb's escape.Head of the Interpol National Central Bureau of Nampol, Deputy Commissioner Immanuel Sam, explained the lengthy extradition process eventually came to an end when Namiseb was brought back to Namibia on Friday.He landed at Hosea Kutako International Airport.“A member of Interpol and a special field reserve force member left on Thursday to accompany him back to Namibia,” Sam said.According to him, Namiseb fled to South Africa after his escape and Interpol, working closely with the South African police as well as informers, traced him in that country.“We put out information about the fugitive to the 102 member countries of Interpol. He was traced and re-arrested in South Africa and we made a formal extradition request to the government of that country,” Sam said.The extradition, which started last year, was a lengthy process and an arrangement was eventually made between the two governments that Namiseb be flown back to Namibia.Namiseb will now be charged with escaping from lawful custody.Tourob is already serving three 15-year prison terms and a separate eight-year jail term in connection with a 2010 attack.Judge Alfred Siboleka had ordered that the sentence for aggravated assault be served concurrently with the sentence for robbery, resulting in an effective 53-year prison term.“The assault was a merciless attack on pensioners who were not able to fight off the attackers and properly defend themselves, due to old age,” Siboleka said in his judgement.In the attack, a 72-year-old man was struck on the head with a spade before he was dragged into his house and tied up. His 69-year-old wife was assaulted, raped and tied up in the house. She sustained serious injuries.The accused then robbed the elderly couple of their car, money, two firearms and jewellery worth about N$78 900. FRED GOEIEMAN

Extradited rapist to face escape charge

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Extradited rapist to face escape charge

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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