Bail denied to hostel father accused of rape

The State yesterday successfully opposed bail in the case of Mervin Ngujapeua, a 48-year-old hostel caretaker facing 20 counts of rape of ten minor boys.
Otjiwarongo Magistrate Helvi Shilemba denied bail on the grounds that it would not be in the public interest to release the accused and that it is the duty of the court to protect the public.
Ngujapeua’s case was postponed to 7 July for further investigation, defence lawyer Milton Engelbrecht confirmed yesterday.
The alleged victims are now between 13 and 17 years old. The abuse allegedly began in 2013.
Ngujapeua was arrested in February when the abuse allegations surfaced.
During the bail hearing last month, prosecutor Johannes Kalipi told the court that there was a public outcry about the case, and friends and family of the alleged victims threatened a protest march should the accused be granted bail.
In addition, a signed petition against the granting of bail was handed to the police’s Woman and Child Protection Unit at Otjiwarongo in May.
Kalipi told the court that Ngujapeua’s work placed him in a trusted “father figure” position and the alleged abuse had severely traumatised the victims.
The State opposed bail for a number of reasons, including fears that Ngujapeua would intimidate the witnesses, in addition to his possible influence on witnesses still to come forward.
Moreover, Kalipi told the court that Ngujapeua’s right to liberty was “outweighed by the rights of the victims.”
The State also argued that in light of threats made by the community should bail be granted, it was in the interest of the accused to remain behind bars until trial.
Engelbrecht informed the court that his client was willing to relocate for the duration of the trial to Okondjatu, a village in the Okakarara Constituency.
The defence said Ngujapeua was willing to adhere to strict bail conditions including regularly reporting to a nearby police station.
Engelbrecht told Magistrate Shilemba that his client was innocent until proven guilty.

JANA-MARI SMITH