Rape accused denied bail at Mariental

NAMPA

MARIENTAL



A 39-year-old man who was arrested this past Saturday for allegedly raping of a 21-year-old woman in Mariental's Ombili informal settlement made his first court appearance on Tuesday.

Silas Pohamba Simon appeared in the Mariental Magistrate's Court before Magistrate Shaatuna Kalla.

He was denied bail on the grounds that he is a flight risk and has a similar case pending, in which he interfered with witnesses.

The case was postponed to 28 August to allow for further investigations and for him to apply for legal aid.



Second offence

It is alleged that Simon overpowered and raped the victim while she was on her way home between 18:00 and 19:00.

Simon was out on bail for a similar offence at the time of the incident.

He is being held in the Mariental police holding cells.



Stock theft

In an unrelated incident, three men aged 17, 25 and 32, who arrested after they allegedly stole and slaughtered a goat valued at N$2 500, made their first court appearance.

Facing a charge of stock theft, the trio also appeared before Kalla.

Willem Phillipus, Silvanus Donovan Kaffer and a 17-year-old minor were denied bail and the matter was postponed to 3 August for a legal aid application, witness statements and further investigations.

It is alleged that the men stole the goat and slaughtered it last Friday at around 16:00 at Plot K-1 Hardap near Mariental.

The three are also detained at the Mariental police holding cells.