OSHAKATI – A pensioner, who was arrested on Friday for allegedly physically abusing her domestic worker, an Angolan national, was denied bail when she made her first appearance in the Ondangwa Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The 62-year-old Selma Daniel was arrested for allegedly employing the 16-year-old girl as a domestic worker and assaulting her.

The accused faces charges of trafficking in persons, violating the Childcare and Protection Act, as well as multiple counts of abusing, neglecting and abandoning a child, as well as starving and assaulting her on numerous occasions.

Daniel appeared before Magistrate Lydia Kambonde, who informed her of her legal rights. 

The accused said she intended to apply for State-funded legal aid.

Prosecutor Wisdom Ndakondja opposed bail, arguing that granting the accused bail at this stage was not in the public interest.

The court ordered that the accused remain in custody at the Okatope Police Station.

The case was postponed to 19 August 2026 due to the ongoing police investigations.

-Nampa