INDEPENDENT Patriots for Change spokesperson Immanuel ‘Imms’ Nashinge yesterday made a first court appearance on a criminal charge over his use of the word “prostitute” in a comment about the socialite Betty Davids.
Nashinge (37) appeared on a count of crimen injuria in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court at Katutura, after Windhoek resident Beata Siteketa, also known as the social media influencer Betty Davids, registered a charge against him with the police last week.
Siteketa’s alter ego is known for her massive social media audience, and had 124 000 followers on her Instagram page by yesterday.
Siteketa is also suing Nashinge for N$400 000 in a defamation claim filed at the Windhoek High Court on Wednesday last week – a day after Nashinge allegedly referred to her as a “prostitute” in a remark he made in a WhatsApp group discussion.
In the crimen injuria charge on which Nashinge appeared before magistrate Atutala Shikalepo, the state is alleging that he on Wednesday last week (3 March) unlawfully and intentionally injured, insulted and impaired Siteketa’s dignity by using obscene language through calling her a prostitute and saying that she sleeps with old men.
The magistrate postponed Nashinge’s case to 27 May for further investigation.
He remains free on a warning from the court in the meantime.
In the defamation claim filed in the High Court last week, Siteketa is demanding N$400 000 and an unconditional retraction and apology from Nashinge over his choice of words in reference to her in a WhatsApp group discussion on 3 March.
Siteketa says Nashinge stated that she is a “kid that is known for sleeping around with older man” (sic), and also said that state institutions should not be used “to promote prostitutes”.
The remarks were made in connection with an online talk in which Siteketa, under the name Betty Davids, participated with Nangula Uaandja, the chief executive officer of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), on 3 March.
The NIPDB was set up to help attract foreign and local investments to Namibia.
Siteketa also alleges in her claim that Nashinge’s intention was to portray her to the public as a person of “low moral scruple”, as incompetent and unqualified to participate in a public discussion about investment in Namibia, and as promiscuous and someone whose “appearance may scare away investors from investing in Namibia because of her sexual adventures”.
Siteketa, who is being represented by lawyer Sisa Namandje, further states in her claim she has degrees in law, accounting and business administration, and Nashinge’s remarks damaged her reputation “as an academically accomplished and capable person”.
Nashinge’s lawyer, Veiko Alexander, has given notice that Nashinge will be defending Siteketa’s lawsuit against himself.
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