Sordid details emerge in sex-trafficking trial
The Windhoek High Court is hearing shocking evidence of human trafficking and exploitation, in a case in which a girl was lured under false pretences from the north, before being sold to men for sex.
The Oshakati state hospital's principal medical officer, Dr Ester K. Gideon, testified yesterday that her examination of the victim had proved inclusive.
“I cannot dispute that the rape victim was sexually active prior to the incident. There were no wounds, either in the form of lacerations or trauma found inside her private parts. No discharge was observed,” she testified before Judge Naomi Shivute. She conceded there was no evidence of rape.
The hymen was already broken, as the girl might have sexually active prior to the incident, Gideon said.
Tuufilwa Jonas, 32, is standing trial for the three counts of trafficking, four counts of rape and one count of the contravention of provisions of the Riotous Assemblies Act.
She allegedly received N$250 from clients in exchange for selling the girl and would pocket N$50 for herself.
She recruited the victim from Okahenge village in Omusati in April 2012 and lured her to Farm Ravensberg near Gross Barmen in the Okahandja district, under the pretext of offering her a job opportunity.
At the farm the girl was allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation by a certain John Puariune from May to July 2012.
The State also alleges that Jonas also allowed “Nico and Phillip” to sexually exploit the victim, who cannot be named.
Jonas was arrested after the victim informed her mother what had happened, who reported the matter to the police.
When the victim arrived at Okahandja in May 2012, Jonas allegedly informed the girl she had been recruited at the request of Puariune and was forced to stay with him.
The State alleges when the girl refused to have sex with Puariune, he demanded N$200 for her transport costs to Okahandja.
It is also alleged that Puariune asked Jonas to help him threaten and coerce the girl into consenting to have a sexual relationship with him.
The girl allegedly stayed with him for two months before Jonas collected her and forced her to live with two other subsequent men.
The State further alleges the victim was not Jonas' only sex trafficking victim.
Another victim “also fell for her scam and was assigned” to another man. This victim allegedly fell pregnant.
Felistas Shikerete-Vendura appears for the State, while Milton Engelbrecht is representing Jonas.
FRED GOEIEMAN
The Oshakati state hospital's principal medical officer, Dr Ester K. Gideon, testified yesterday that her examination of the victim had proved inclusive.
“I cannot dispute that the rape victim was sexually active prior to the incident. There were no wounds, either in the form of lacerations or trauma found inside her private parts. No discharge was observed,” she testified before Judge Naomi Shivute. She conceded there was no evidence of rape.
The hymen was already broken, as the girl might have sexually active prior to the incident, Gideon said.
Tuufilwa Jonas, 32, is standing trial for the three counts of trafficking, four counts of rape and one count of the contravention of provisions of the Riotous Assemblies Act.
She allegedly received N$250 from clients in exchange for selling the girl and would pocket N$50 for herself.
She recruited the victim from Okahenge village in Omusati in April 2012 and lured her to Farm Ravensberg near Gross Barmen in the Okahandja district, under the pretext of offering her a job opportunity.
At the farm the girl was allegedly subjected to sexual exploitation by a certain John Puariune from May to July 2012.
The State also alleges that Jonas also allowed “Nico and Phillip” to sexually exploit the victim, who cannot be named.
Jonas was arrested after the victim informed her mother what had happened, who reported the matter to the police.
When the victim arrived at Okahandja in May 2012, Jonas allegedly informed the girl she had been recruited at the request of Puariune and was forced to stay with him.
The State alleges when the girl refused to have sex with Puariune, he demanded N$200 for her transport costs to Okahandja.
It is also alleged that Puariune asked Jonas to help him threaten and coerce the girl into consenting to have a sexual relationship with him.
The girl allegedly stayed with him for two months before Jonas collected her and forced her to live with two other subsequent men.
The State further alleges the victim was not Jonas' only sex trafficking victim.
Another victim “also fell for her scam and was assigned” to another man. This victim allegedly fell pregnant.
Felistas Shikerete-Vendura appears for the State, while Milton Engelbrecht is representing Jonas.
FRED GOEIEMAN
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