Judge Teek back in the dock

SUSPENDED Supreme Court Judge of Appeal Pio Teek made a third pre-trial appearance in the High Court yesterday, to hear that he is still set to go on trial from October 17, and that he will have to make one last pre-trial appearance in the same court on October 12.

The 58-year-old Teek was arrested on January 31, after charges in which it was claimed that he had abducted and sexually molested two children, girls aged ten and nine, were laid with the Namibian Police. The Judge’s defence lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, has already indicated that Teek will be strongly denying the allegations against him once his trial starts.It is alleged that Teek picked up the two girls in Katutura on the evening of January 28 and drove with them to his smallholding in the Brakwater area, where he allegedly gave them some beer to drink.According to the indictment, Teek sexually fondled the ten-year-old girl in his car on the way to Brakwater, and again at the smallholding itself.He is facing two counts of rape on the basis of those claims, and is also facing charges of abduction, using liquor as a means to stupefy a female for unlawful intercourse, and committing indecent acts with children under the age of 16.Teek was the first Judge in Namibia to be suspended from his post.The Judge’s defence lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, has already indicated that Teek will be strongly denying the allegations against him once his trial starts.It is alleged that Teek picked up the two girls in Katutura on the evening of January 28 and drove with them to his smallholding in the Brakwater area, where he allegedly gave them some beer to drink.According to the indictment, Teek sexually fondled the ten-year-old girl in his car on the way to Brakwater, and again at the smallholding itself.He is facing two counts of rape on the basis of those claims, and is also facing charges of abduction, using liquor as a means to stupefy a female for unlawful intercourse, and committing indecent acts with children under the age of 16.Teek was the first Judge in Namibia to be suspended from his post.