Boy allegedly raped demands justiceA rape, kidnapping and assault case involving a boy (15) and five boys aged between 15-17 accused of committing the crime was not opened and investigated due to ongoing negotiations involving the exchange of cattle and money between the involved parties.
This became known after the father of the victim travelled to Walvis Bay in search of assistance on the matter and was only provided with a case number Khorixas CR 11/09/2016 after Chief Inspector Moses Uwe Kheib intervened and launched an inquiry about the case with Khorixas police station on 9 September.
The boy is living in fear since the incident happened on 20 August.
“My boy received death threats and I tried on numerous occasions to open a case. He has also not received any counselling since the incident occurred. I do not know what to do. Nothing has happened since the incident took place and I reported it. I did not receive a case number and when I enquired, they informed me the docket was with the magistrate.”
The victim says he was overpowered by five boys known to him walking from a hostel on the evening of the incident. They assaulted him with pipes and dragged him approximately 400 metres to a house where they reside. Three of the assailants then held him down while the remaining two put on condoms and took turns to rape him.
The boy managed to escape and ran to another house where a wedding was taking place. He requested help and was transported back to the hostel where he told a female worker what happened. She accompanied him to Khorixas police station to report the matter and was advised to return the following day for a statement to be taken.
The boy’s father told the newspaper he received a phone call on Saturday informing him of what had happened to his son and requesting that he go to the police station.
The female constable who took the boy’s statement apparently informed the father that a case cannot be opened due to the accused being minors and advised him to consult with the parents of the perpetrators.
“I found the mothers of two of the accused and they offered me a cow or N$3 000 in cash to let go of the case. I am not prepared to do this. The case must proceed. I want justice for the sake of my boy.”
According to the father, he proceeded with his boy to the hospital and was informed that they could not be helped without a paper from the police station and in the presence of a police officer.
“I went back to the police station and asked for advice. They told me that the officer who took the statement was not available and there was no one else that could accompany us.”
A farm owner in the area advised the boy’s father to open a case. The farmer eventually sent his son to enquire about the case on 6 August and was told not to get involved since the matter didn’t concern him.
“I received phone calls telling me not to interfere since the accused are minors. I am concerned that the issue will be swept under the carpet. The culture of providing livestock or money in exchange for damages suffered and in turn to have cases between parties withdrawn or resolved is encouraged and practised here.”
Sergeant Ileni Shapumba explained that children younger than seven cannot be held accountable for any action and thus cannot be prosecuted.
“Once a child reaches the age of 14 this can be challenged due to the nature of a particular case and such a child can be prosecuted. The accused in this particular case must be charged since they are older than 14.”
He recommended that the matter be reported to the Erongo Regional Crime Investigator who would take it up with the responsible authority for the Kunene Region where the incident occurred.
OTIS FINCK