Four arrested for beating 16-year-old

AN alleged assault on a 16-year-old boy from Ondangwa landed four men, including a Police officer from Ondangwa, in court last week.

At the end of April, Hofeni Angomo Ikolola told the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) that he had been chained to a pillar outside a cuca shop in Oshigambo village, about 20 kilometres north of Ondangwa. He had been accused of housebreaking and theft, and said he was repeatedly whipped with a sjambok in an attempt to force him to confess to the crimes.He named the perpetrators of the acts against him as an Ondangwa Police Sergeant, a local businessman and two other village residents.After allegedly spending the night chained up while being beaten by the men, Ikolola was admitted to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital on April 25, and was released four days later.Yesterday, the Police’s public relations division reported that four men have since been arrested for the assault on the boy.The men were identified as Mutilifa Keeleleni (58), Andreas Nghiwhekwa (44), Nakanyala Akuunda (30), and Police Sergeant Sakeus Amuele (36).They have all been charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.All four appeared in court last week, and are currently out on bail of N$800 each.Their case was postponed until July 24.Meanwhile, the boy himself faces three separate criminal charges – two of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and one of theft.He is currently being held in Police custody at Ondangwa, and is scheduled to return to the magistrate’s court on July 4.He had been accused of housebreaking and theft, and said he was repeatedly whipped with a sjambok in an attempt to force him to confess to the crimes.He named the perpetrators of the acts against him as an Ondangwa Police Sergeant, a local businessman and two other village residents.After allegedly spending the night chained up while being beaten by the men, Ikolola was admitted to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital on April 25, and was released four days later.Yesterday, the Police’s public relations division reported that four men have since been arrested for the assault on the boy.The men were identified as Mutilifa Keeleleni (58), Andreas Nghiwhekwa (44), Nakanyala Akuunda (30), and Police Sergeant Sakeus Amuele (36).They have all been charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and kidnapping.All four appeared in court last week, and are currently out on bail of N$800 each.Their case was postponed until July 24.Meanwhile, the boy himself faces three separate criminal charges – two of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and one of theft.He is currently being held in Police custody at Ondangwa, and is scheduled to return to the magistrate’s court on July 4.