By Matheus Hamutenya
KEETMANSHOOP – With his pants down, underground and surrounded by five Chinese men, Africa Huaxia employee Nicanor Paulus claims, he was sexually assaulted by his Chinese colleagues at the company’s mine near Rehoboth.
The 26-year-old Paulus who is a worker at the mine says he and his colleagues went underground to do drilling but was shocked and horrified when he found himself surrounded by five of his Chinese workmates.
“They attacked me, took off my trousers and underwear and started playing with my penis,” he said.
Paulus explained that some of the men were holding him while the others played with his penis. “Some were holding me and one spat on my penis,” he tearfully told New Era.
The incident happened on November 26, according to Paulus, but he only managed to report the matter to the police the following day as the Women and Child Protection Unit was closed on the day of the incident.
Three of his assailants were arrested at the mine, the police confirmed.
He said upon arrival at the police station he was asked if he would accept any monetary payment for the case to be withdrawn, which he agreed to and went back home.
When he got home, he says, he was called by Inspector Simon Hawanga for his opinion on how much the Chinese should pay him.
“My answer was each person should pay N$3 000, but he said it was too much and I should lower it to N$500 per person,” he said.
He was then called to the police station where he received N$2 500 and he withdrew the case.
Paulus said upon receiving the money he was disappointed as it was “too little” and he was worried that something could happen to him in future due to the incident but was “assured and comforted” by Inspector Hawanga that everything would be fine.
“He told me that I will be fine, that the Chinese are fine and not witches like Kavangos and Zambezians,” he explained.
Inspector Hawanga however denied claims that the police initiated the payment of money to settle the case, saying that Paulus himself suggested the idea of monetary settlement.
He also denied claims that he assured Paulus that there was no danger from the Chinese. “I never referred to Kavangos and Zambezians, I referred to Nigerians,” he charged.
Lamek Indongo, one of the directors of the mine, said he was aware of the incident and that he consulted with the management, and the five Chinese workers were dismissed and deported.
“I can tell you they are no longer with us as what they did is wrong and unacceptable,” Indongo said.
He added that he was not aware of the monetary payment arrangements and the mine was not involved in any such matter.
The mine, also known as Swartmodderdam copper mine, is situated about 14 kilometres out of Rehoboth.