RUNDU - A 27-year-old taxi driver, who was arrested at Rundu for allegedly raping a female passenger who boarded his vehicle in the wee hours of Saturday, was denied bail on Monday.

According to information presented to the Namibian police by the victim, she got into the taxi at around 02h00, and was the only passenger.

The taxi driver, Moses Musongo, who appeared in the Rundu Magistrate’s Court yesterday, reportedly drove up to Tumweneni informal settlement and allegedly raped the victim. 

“He forced her out of the taxi and then had sexual intercourse with her without her consent as she was under the influence of alcohol,” said the police in a crime report.

Musongo opted to conduct his own defence in his next appearance, but was denied bail because the case against him was serious. His case was remanded to 22 February 2022 for plea.

Meanwhile, a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened at the Mururani police station on Friday evening just before midnight. 

It is alleged that a Scania bus and a Toyota Corolla sedan collided on the Mururani-Grootfontein road. The bus had 47 passengers on board, and all escaped uninjured.

However, the 40-year-old male driver of the Toyota Corolla sedan, who was the only occupant in the vehicle, was seriously injured and is in a critical condition. 

He was transported to the Grootfontein State Hospital for treatment, and later transferred to Windhoek. The police investigation on the cause of the accident continues.

- jmuyamba@nepc.com.na