Russian national Alexander Krylov and his Namibian counterpart Anna Engelbrecht were sentenced to 35 years and 20 years imprisonment respectively on Friday.
Windhoek High Court judge Claudia Claasen delivered the sentences on convictions of rape and trafficking in persons.
Krylov was convicted on 10 counts of rape and 10 counts of trafficking in persons as well as a count of supplying children under the age of 18 with cigarettes. Engelbrecht was convicted on three counts of rape and five counts of trafficking in persons.
The judge sentenced Krylov, affectionately known as Sir Alex, to five years on each count of trafficking and 15 years on each count of rape. She, however, ordered that nine of the sentences on the trafficking counts are to be served concurrently with the sentences on the remaining trafficking count and further that eight of the sentences on the rape counts are to be served concurrently with two of the rape counts. She further sentenced him to a fine of N$12 000 or 12 months in default on the cigarette conviction.
Judge Claasen sentenced Engelbrecht to five years each on the trafficking convictions and 15 years each on the rape convictions. She ordered that four of the five sentences on the trafficking convictions are to be served concurrently with the sentences imposed on the remaining count.
She further ordered that two of the three sentences imposed on the rape charges are to be served concurrently with the sentences imposed on the remaining rape count.
The 62-year-old Krylov, admitted he had intercourse with at least five under-aged girls during 2017, but denied that he raped any of them.
The duo faced 42 counts of rape and child trafficking in addition to a charge of supplying minors with cigarettes. The judge found that the remorse expressed by the accused were lip service and that they only regret being caught and the consequences of their actions.
“Both of them stopped short of accepting responsibility for their actions and instead tried to shift the blame on the victims,” Judge Claasen stated.
Krylov and Engelbrecht were represented by Ileni Velikoshi and the State by Palmer Khumalo.
– rrouth@nepc.com.na