WINDHOEK – Epafraditus Unengu (32), who faces two charges of rape will now stand trial in the High Court. The case has been set to start on September 19. The matter was transferred to the High Court from the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Unengu had pleaded not guilty to the charges during his appearance in May.
Unengu is the son of Acting Judge of the High Court, Petrus Unengu. Unengu was arrested on November 10 last year in Windhoek on a rape charge while out on bail of N$10 000 for another rape case in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court.
He is alleged to have committed the first rape on July 9 2011 in Rundu. He is further accused of trying to kill the rape victim “by strangling her and pouring sand in her mouth”, the charge sheet states.
He is yet to stand trial in Rundu for the alleged rape committed in that district in 2011, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He pleaded not guilty to the three charges on February 3.
In the Windhoek rape case, Unengu is alleged to have raped the complainant at a time he was supposedly working as a taxi driver. The complainant allegedly took Unengu’s taxi from her home in Otjomuise to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Northern Industrial Area. Already in the taxi were one male passenger and two female passengers, the latter being dropped off in town.
He proceeded to the industrial area, where the male passenger was dropped off. Unengu then allegedly told the victim he wanted to urinate and stopped the car.
The accused allegedly got out of the taxi, opened the door on the side where the complainant was seated, throttled her, pushed her down and then allegedly raped her.
Unengu was granted bail of N$30 000 after spending eight months in custody. He was granted bail in the High Court after he appealed the magistrate’ court decision not to grant him bail. Magistrate Justine Asino presided. Alexander Veiko represented the State.
By Tunomukwathi Asino