Doctor, mother get bail in rape case

A medical practitioner and his mother were granted bail in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Friday, after spending a month in custody on a rape charge involving the doctor’s seven-year-old son.

Magistrate Immanuel Udjombala granted bail in an amount of N$15 000 each to the Windhoek-based doctor (36) and his mother (58), on condition that they may not in any way interfere with state witnesses or the state’s evidence in their case after their release.

The two accused were arrested about four weeks ago.

They have been charged with one count of rape, in which the state is alleging that they committed sexual acts with the doctor’s son on diverse occasions from 2018 to January this year.

The names of the two accused may not be published, to protect the identity of the child involved in the matter.

During their bail hearing, the two accused denied that they committed any sexual acts with the boy, who is now seven years old.

The doctor also claimed the allegations against him and his mother were made up by his former wife, who is the mother of his son.

In his bail ruling, Udjombala noted that no injuries indicating that the doctor’s son had been sexually assaulted were found during medical examinations of the boy.

He also recounted that the doctor and the boy’s mother were involved in divorce proceedings during which she denied that she previously accused the doctor of sexually abusing their son.

Udjombala said the two accused have both shown they have strong ties to Namibia and that there would not be a risk of them fleeing if released on bail.

The magistrate also said in his view they would not interfere with investigations in the matter if released on bail.

The two accused have to make a next court appearance on 13 September.

They were represented by defence lawyers Sisa Namandje, Mbushandje Ntinda, Karel Gaeb and Marco Kazondana during the bail hearing.

The state was represented by prosecutors Seredine Jacobs, Bernadine Bertolini and Rowan van Wyk.