Hostel caretaker to plead to rape charges on Wednesday

WINDHOEK, 18 JUN  – A former hostel caretaker at the Karundu Primary School in Otjiwarongo charged with the rape of 10 boys is scheduled to plead to the charges against him on Wednesday.
Mervin Nguyapeua faces 32 charges of rape and 27 alternative charges of committing sexual acts involving 10 boys younger than 16 from 2013 to 2015 when he was employed as caretaker at that hostel.
The trial of the 48-year-old accused was set to start before High Court Judge Alfred Siboleka on Monday, but was put on hold until Wednesday because the victims and some state witnesses were uncomfortable to testify in court with the accused person around.
He is expected to enter his pleas to the charges against him when the trial starts in the High Court on Wednesday at about 10h00.
The postponement of the trial was decided upon as per agreement reached between the accused’s government-funded defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht and State Advocate Seredine Jacobs in court on Monday.
Nguyapeua remains in police custody at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility’s trial-awaiting section until Wednesday when he returns to the High Court for the start of the trial.
A case of molestation was opened against him at the Otjiwarongo Police Station in March 2016 and he was arrested shortly afterwards.
According to a summary of substantial facts contained in the charge sheet, he allegedly committed the offences while living at the hostel of that school. He was regarded as a father figure by learners who stayed in the hostel.

NAMPA