Booys fears for his life – lawyer
Former Swapo lawmaker Steve Biko Booys does not want to be incarcerated in Okahandja, citing safety concerns.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The legal team of former Swapo regional councillor for Okahandja, Steve Biko Booys, says the life of their client is in danger and he should, therefore, not be detained in Okahandja.
Booys was yesterday denied bail in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court where he stood accused of rape and incest charges.
His lawyer Trevor Brockerhoff asked the court to detain him at the Seeis police station due to safety concerns.
“I have engaged my colleague for an order of detention as the accused is politically endangered; we fear that his life might be endangered here in Okahandja,” Brockerhoff said.
The court granted the order for the former lawmaker to be detained at Seeis.
He was arrested by the Okahandja police on Monday for raping a close relative who is 21 years old. He has been charged with two counts of rape and two counts of incest.
A group of activists gathered at the court yesterday morning demanding that the State oppose bail.
Spokesperson of the police, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said Booys allegedly raped the woman on two separate occasions, 17 and 18 January, while she was under the influence of alcohol.
“A formal complaint was only registered on 26 January after she reported the matter to the police.”
Shikwambi said an investigation was then launched, which led to Booys’ arrest on Monday at his house.
Further probe
The case has been postponed to 8 April for further investigations.
Prosecutor Veruka Njembo appeared on behalf of the State and Brockerhoff represented the accused, while senior magistrate Kandiwapa Nangombe presided over the matter.
Booys served as Swapo’s Okahandja constituency councillor for 10 years after he first ran for the position in 2010.
He then bowed out of parliament last year when he decided not to stand for the November regional council and local authority elections.
WINDHOEK
The legal team of former Swapo regional councillor for Okahandja, Steve Biko Booys, says the life of their client is in danger and he should, therefore, not be detained in Okahandja.
Booys was yesterday denied bail in the Okahandja Magistrate’s Court where he stood accused of rape and incest charges.
His lawyer Trevor Brockerhoff asked the court to detain him at the Seeis police station due to safety concerns.
“I have engaged my colleague for an order of detention as the accused is politically endangered; we fear that his life might be endangered here in Okahandja,” Brockerhoff said.
The court granted the order for the former lawmaker to be detained at Seeis.
He was arrested by the Okahandja police on Monday for raping a close relative who is 21 years old. He has been charged with two counts of rape and two counts of incest.
A group of activists gathered at the court yesterday morning demanding that the State oppose bail.
Spokesperson of the police, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, said Booys allegedly raped the woman on two separate occasions, 17 and 18 January, while she was under the influence of alcohol.
“A formal complaint was only registered on 26 January after she reported the matter to the police.”
Shikwambi said an investigation was then launched, which led to Booys’ arrest on Monday at his house.
Further probe
The case has been postponed to 8 April for further investigations.
Prosecutor Veruka Njembo appeared on behalf of the State and Brockerhoff represented the accused, while senior magistrate Kandiwapa Nangombe presided over the matter.
Booys served as Swapo’s Okahandja constituency councillor for 10 years after he first ran for the position in 2010.
He then bowed out of parliament last year when he decided not to stand for the November regional council and local authority elections.
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