WINDHOEK/WALVIS BAY – More questions have been raised with regard to the female trial-awaiting prisoner, who fell pregnant and gave birth while in the police holding cells in Walvis Bay last year.
The male inmate believed to be responsible for impregnating her is alleged to have dug a hole through the holding cell separating male and female inmates for the illicit rendezvous to take place, but a New Era investigation has established that the hole through which the inmate purportedly accessed the female inmate’s cell is about 10 cm in diameter and is even too small to fit a fist. New Era visited the holding cells in Narraville yesterday to survey the hole and found that the “hole” is about 10cm in diameter which is only large enough for a chicken egg and is almost at shoulder height, the height of an average person. Also, the fact that female inmates are kept in cell 1, while male inmates are kept in cell 3, leaving cell 2 empty raises even more questions. Approached for comment police deputy commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi again reiterated that there is little, if anything at all, that the police can do since the alleged intercourse appears to have been consensual. However, Ombudsman John Walters yesterday expressed scepticism about the explanations based on the purported internal police investigation, especially the unlikely claim that the male inmate had access to the female inmate through a hole in the wall. “It’s more probable that someone left the cell doors open which led to what traspired,” said Walters, who was very hesitant to comment on the merits or specifics of the case.
Police officers who spoke to New Era at the Narraville police holding cells, on condition of anonymity, revealed that the hole is not new and hinted that it is more likely a police officer booked out
either the female or male inmate making it possible for the two to meet and have intercourse. Chief Inspector Gerson Katjivena, the commander of the Narraville police station, declined to comment on the case and referred New Era to the head office in Windhoek. Our inquiries there were met with a stony silence.
When New Era first broke the story, the relatives of the woman, Johanna Lukas, and the woman herself, alleged rape by a fellow inmate and a police cover-up. The police responded by launching an internal probe and last week said the investigation cleared the police and that the male inmate has not been brought to justice, because the woman has not laid a charge of rape. The police also said there is no likely action to be taken against the male inmate. The male inmate is apparently denying any relations with Lukas or that he is the father of her child. Police have taken DNA samples for a paternity test.
New Era has not yet been able to have an extensive interview with Lukas, who often becomes very emotional and tearful whenever questions are posed to her about the incident.
Kanguatjivi, the head of the police public relations division, said the police are awaiting the results of the DNA test in order to establish the truth. Meanwhile, Lukas is expected to make another pre-trial appearance before the Judge President today.
She and Gwen Nelwembe were arrested on rape and child trafficking charges in October 2012. It is alleged that Lukas and Nelwembe trafficked three under-aged girls to a South African citizen, Martinus Pretorius, for sex. Pretorius managed to evade arrest and is currently believed to have fled to his native South Africa. At the time of the incident Pretorius was employed at one of the uranium mines at the coast.
By Roland Routh and Eveline de Klerk