Oshakati

A 51-year-old became a free man after his wife withdrew a charge of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.

Johannes Paulus, a former police officer, was arrested on May 27, 2015, by fellow policemen for beating up his wife after he demanded food while she was still preparing the meal.

The wife sustained a swollen face and her eyes were almost closed shut from the beating.

Paulus has been remanded in custody since his arrest.

The case in which Paulus was remanded in custody follows several other abuse incidents in which his wife 42-year-old Nalooliwa Pohamba suffered at the hands of her husband.

Testifying in court, Pohamba - who pleaded with court to withdraw the case - said she was not compelled to withdraw the case because she wanted her husband back home.

“I want my husband to be released from custody and come back home because I have forgiven him,” related Pohamba.

In the same court, a 29-year-old man from Oshakati West was denied bail for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm as well as pointing a firearm at his girlfriend.

Tobias Joseph was arrested on June 15 and he made his first appearance before Magistrate Helena Ekandjo at the Oshakati Magistrate’s court yesterday.

The matter was remanded to August 5 this year for further police investigations and Joseph remains in custody.

Prosecutor Petrine Hango indicated to court that the complainant had objected that the accused be granted bail because she fears for her life once the accused is granted bail. Joseph, however, pleaded to the court to postpone his case to an earlier date of which the magistrate declined informing the accused that the provided date is the earliest the court can allocate for his case. Joseph informed the court he was wrongfully accused.

“Can I not be given an earlier date because all these stories are not true, I am being accused,” Joseph informed the court.