ONGWEDIVA - A 50-year-old army sergeant has been charged for allegedly molesting three minor girls known to him.

According to Oshana community affairs officer, Warrant Frieda Shikole, a case of molestation has been opened against the army sergeant whose identity cannot be revealed due to his close relationship with the complainants’ families.  The victims’ ages are 11, nine, and eight.

“The suspect did appear in court and bail was not granted. The case has been postponed to 3 January 2024,” said Shikole.

The most recent incident which took place at Omashaka gaKamanya in Ondangwa on Sunday left the neighbourhood in shock and disgust.

According to the mother of one of the victims whose identity cannot be revealed to protect the identity of the minor complainant, she was horrified to hear that her 50-year-old neighbour had molested her daughter and two other minor girls.

She claims he had been molesting the victims aged eight and nine since August on different occasions.

“He started dating the bar lady that works in the minors’ grandfather’s bar in July and on several occasions, she took care of the victims when their grandmother was not around,” said the mother.

She maintained that the neighbour molested her 11-year-old daughter on Sunday.

“He called me saying my daughter should come get my beer from him at the bar, when she got the beer from him, he decided to escort her home. He told my daughter that he loved her, and he started touching her boobs, tried kissing her, and touch her private part. I am lucky my daughter told me everything that evening,” said a disgusted mother.

She further claimed that the suspected molester violated the other two victims on the same day. 

The lady maintained that the suspect would always bribe the minors with money and tell them to not inform anyone.

“On that same evening, my other neighbours and I went to confront the suspect and he did not deny anything but blamed everything on alcohol. We called the police, and he was arrested,” said the mother.

The two minors’ grandmother who prefers to be anonymous highlighted that she is disappointed and extremely sad.

“I was not around; I was in Windhoek when the confrontation of the suspect happened. He has been molesting my grandchildren for so long and I am still in disbelief. Why would a grown man do that to my small grandchildren? They are so young,” said a heartbroken grandmother.

She said in most cases when the molestation happened, she was never around because she travels out of town a lot.

“Something is wrong with him, I think he is sick,” said the grandmother.

- maxhenrich356@gmail