The High Court is waiting on the results of the psychological evaluation done on Johann Maree, a former police reservist, facing multiple counts of rape for allegedly sexually abusing underage boys, filming and selling pornographic materials of them on the dark web. 

Last week, prosecutor Antonia Verhoef and Maree’s lawyer Eva Maria Nangolo-Philemon informed High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg they have not received the outcome of his psychiatric evaluation.

The former police reservist is to be examined by two independent psychiatrists, who will then determine his criminal capacity before his upcoming trial.

Maree was last month granted leave to undergo a mental evaluation after Nangolo-Philemon said he has a history of mental illness. 

Should Maree be found to be mentally fit, he will be tried on 75 criminal charges. 

Of those charges, the State is alleging he sexually abused and exploited 15 teenage boys, among whom he raped or indecently assaulted 13 of them.  

The prosecution further claims he used 10 of the boys in making child pornography, which he then sold on the dark web. 

Maree, who worked as a private investigator and sports photographer, was allegedly operating a website under the name ‘Boy Idols’. 

Through police investigations, it was discovered that Maree sold pictures of boys modelling clothes and swimwear. 

According to the police, videos obtained through investigations show minors performing various sexual acts in bathrooms. 

Other videos were filmed in toilets and swimming pools at sporting events in Windhoek. 

These videos were also allegedly sold on the internet.

Maree has since denied the allegation.

But the police have a confession from him in which he admits to all the allegations; he is disputing the confession. 

In his defence, he testified during his failed bail application that he made the confession under duress. 

He further said the police made a deal with him that should he confess to some of the allegations, they would allow him to see his dogs, and not involve the victims and their children in the case. 

He was also promised he would be released on bail. 

He said the police told him what to write in his confession.

Maree said he agreed to the deal, as he did not want the children to be subjected to cross-examination in court, as he regards them as family. 

He said the police are yet to fulfil their end of the deal, as he has not seen his dogs since his arrest on 30 April 2020.

His case has since been postponed to 17 November for the outcome of his mental evaluation.

- mamakali@nepc.com.na