Lawyer withdraws rape accused’s bail application
The alleged rape came to light after the daughter had sex with another child at kindergarten. When approached by her teacher, she said her father “does this” to her.
Erwin Leuschner
SWAKOPMUND
A 48-year-old man accused of raping his five-year-old daughter will be spending the festive season behind bars after his lawyer withdrew his bail application in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court this week.
“After consulting the defendant's relatives, we decided to abandon the bail application. The family fear that he will harm himself and I cannot let that rest on my conscience.
“So, this is in the best interests of my client,” lawyer Danie Kotze said to Judge Conchita Olivier.
The case was postponed to 1 February, while the defendant is set to receive psychological treatment in the meantime, Namibian Sun’s sister publication Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
The man was arrested at the beginning of the month after allegedly sexually abusing his daughter several times since January.
Wife fears for ‘other children’
The public prosecutor's office had previously objected to the bail, while in an affidavit, the defendant’s wife said she fears that her husband will “hurt other children”.
“I want to protect my daughter,” she said.
At the beginning of the bail hearing, the defendant vehemently denied the allegations.
"We love each other. I love my daughter with all my heart. We have a very good father-daughter relationship,” he said.
He had also assured that he would take a polygraph test to prove his innocence.
“I would never think of hurting my daughter. She is only five years old and cannot defend herself,” he said several times.
‘Regular vaginal infections’
He claimed, however, that his daughter regularly had vaginal infections that were treated. Injuries to her genital area could, therefore, be attributed to treatment by someone else, he said.
The alleged rape came to light after the daughter had sex with another child at kindergarten. When approached by her teacher, she said her father “does this” to her.
The police and a social worker were then called in, and the young girl described detailed sexual acts.
According to prosecutor Beata Mwahi, a medical professional examined the victim and confirmed that penetration had indeed taken place - several times.
The father faked a vaginal infection to try to hide his act, she said.
SWAKOPMUND
A 48-year-old man accused of raping his five-year-old daughter will be spending the festive season behind bars after his lawyer withdrew his bail application in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court this week.
“After consulting the defendant's relatives, we decided to abandon the bail application. The family fear that he will harm himself and I cannot let that rest on my conscience.
“So, this is in the best interests of my client,” lawyer Danie Kotze said to Judge Conchita Olivier.
The case was postponed to 1 February, while the defendant is set to receive psychological treatment in the meantime, Namibian Sun’s sister publication Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
The man was arrested at the beginning of the month after allegedly sexually abusing his daughter several times since January.
Wife fears for ‘other children’
The public prosecutor's office had previously objected to the bail, while in an affidavit, the defendant’s wife said she fears that her husband will “hurt other children”.
“I want to protect my daughter,” she said.
At the beginning of the bail hearing, the defendant vehemently denied the allegations.
"We love each other. I love my daughter with all my heart. We have a very good father-daughter relationship,” he said.
He had also assured that he would take a polygraph test to prove his innocence.
“I would never think of hurting my daughter. She is only five years old and cannot defend herself,” he said several times.
‘Regular vaginal infections’
He claimed, however, that his daughter regularly had vaginal infections that were treated. Injuries to her genital area could, therefore, be attributed to treatment by someone else, he said.
The alleged rape came to light after the daughter had sex with another child at kindergarten. When approached by her teacher, she said her father “does this” to her.
The police and a social worker were then called in, and the young girl described detailed sexual acts.
According to prosecutor Beata Mwahi, a medical professional examined the victim and confirmed that penetration had indeed taken place - several times.
The father faked a vaginal infection to try to hide his act, she said.
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