A woman who lost her hands and suffered extensive burn wounds all over her body is demanding justice as her former boyfriend, who she suspects of setting alight the shack in which they were sleeping, has not been prosecuted nor has she been informed of the progress of the case.

Her younger sister, Auleria Thomas (25), died from injuries sustained in the arson incident in 2016 at Ombili location in Windhoek when she was 27 years old.

Speaking to New Era recently, Hilda Thomas, a 33-year-old woman from Iitananga village in the Omusati region, said it is unfair that her former boyfriend, Augustu Sipema Matheus (then 34), is not in jail.

“There is no justice. He must be arrested and become an example to others. It’s totally unfair. I lost my sister in such a terrible fire,” she stated.

Thomas said before the fire, she was often assaulted and insulted by her then boyfriend.

“He used to threaten me. He told me that he would kill me if I dump him. I have been living in
fear whenever I am sleeping or going to work,” she narrated.

Her boyfriend also wanted to force her to marry him.

“He said he would kill me. The following day, the fire incident happened at our shack while I was sleeping with my sister. It was around 02h00 when our room caught fire, which I suspect was set alight by my boyfriend,” she added.

Thomas said the suspect doused their shack’s door in paraffin. The fire engulfed the entire room and they screamed for assistance, but nobody came to help.

“We managed to escape the fire. However, we were already injured. The neighbours woke up and called the police to render assistance”, she continued.

Thomas said they were then taken to hospital, but her sister unfortunately died.

“I didn’t mourn my sister because I was in ICU for four months,” she lamented.

However, the now 40-year-old Matheus said the case isn’t yet finalised as it is still under investigation.

He said he was not in Windhoek at the time of the fire, but does not deny threatening to kill his former girlfriend.

“I was in Tsumeb. Her mother called me, telling me that she got injured in a fire. They suspect me since I used to threaten to kill her,” he added.

Matheus said the following day, he drove to Windhoek with their son, whom he was staying with in that Oshikoto region town.

“When I arrived in Windhoek, I was called by the police, who said I am the one who set the shack on fire. I was arrested, and later on released because there was no evidence that I was the one who started the fire,” he explained.

“While I was on my way back to Tsumeb with my wife, we were arrested at the Otjiwarongo roadblock regarding this case. The police said my wife and I set the fire,” he added.

He said eventually, his wife was released, but he was taken to Windhoek, and was in police custody for six months.

“While in custody, I looked for lawyers to represent me in court and spent N$46 000. Immediately afterwards, I was released on bail,” he noted.

Matheus said the last time they went to court was in February this year.

The fire completely changed Thomas’ life. As she has no hands, she can’t work, and now completely relies on a social grant from government. She struggles to eat, bath and help herself in the toilet. On top of that, her skin itches constantly and her eyes are always in pain. She has to wear sunglasses to protect her eyes. 

Meanwhile, Thomas told the police that she suspected her boyfriend set fire to their shack since he was always threatening to kill
her.

“He was arrested immediately after the incident. When we went to court, I was told there is no evidence of the suspect’s guilt. The suspect was then released from custody,” she added. After the suspect was released, the public held a peaceful demonstration, demanding that
he be re-arrested.

“He was then re-arrested, but was again released, apparently because there was no evidence,” the victim said. The case stopped in 2016, and nothing has been done since then.

Approached for comment, deputy director of communication at the Judiciary Victoria Hango said at the time, the case was struck off the court roll for the investigating officer to finalise investigations.  

She said the complainant can approach the investigating officer, and alternatively she can approach the prosecutor at the court where the matter was dealt with for
assistance.

Thomas said the suspect has in the meantime gotten married, and
is now living a happy life. 

“I don’t have peace anymore. I am now injured. My sister has died in my hands,” she cried.

-fhamalwa@nepc.com.na