Former minister of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform Mac Hengari says his arrest two and a half months ago was a trap.
Hengari made this statement in testimony during a bail hearing before magistrate Monica Andjaba in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
“I was arrested as a consequence of a trap,” he said during his testimony.
Hengari said he is denying guilt on a charge of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Hengari and a co-accused have been in police custody since their arrest in Windhoek on 26 April.
The co-accused is not being identified because he is related to a woman who has registered a rape charge against Hengari with the police.
Hengari and the second accused are charged with a count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
They are also facing a charge of corruptly giving gratification and incitement to commit the offence of compounding, which involves unlawfully withdrawing a criminal case in exchange for payment.
The state is alleging that N$220 200 was given to the rape complainant on 26 April as an inducement for her to withdraw the rape charge against Hengari.
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