Ondangwa resident Potgieter Vilho has been arrested for allegedly defaming northern-based businessman Ben Hauwanga in a series of defamation claims.
Oshana police crime investigation coordinator deputy commissioner Frederick Ndjadila says Toivo Simeon, also known as Potgieter Vilho, was arrested on 24 November in the Oshana region.
Ndjadila says Vilho was arrested on a warrant of arrest and he made a brief court appearance on 25 November at the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court.
He says on 26 November, Vilho was transferred to Windhoek for the continuation of the matter.
He, however, declined to go into details on the nature of the arrest.
He says defamation of character can lead to arrest if it contains some elements of violence, although he’s not sure what transpired to lead to the arrest.
“This gentleman was arrested on a Windhoek-based case.
The warrant of arrest was directed to our region and we effected the arrest. Our work was just to make sure that he is arrested and appears before court.
“The police in Windhoek will be able to confirm whether he has appeared in court or not. As per procedure, after the arrest, we took him to court,” he says.
Khomas region crime investigation coordinator deputy commissioner Chrispin Mubebo could not confirm whether Vilho has appeared in court or not. He says the information will only be made available today.
Hauwanga, when contacted by The Namibian yesterday, declined to comment on the matter, saying that everything is in the hands of the police.
“A lot of things happened, but I cannot say anything because the matter is now in the hands of the police. I really can’t comment, I’m sorry,” he said.
The Namibian reported earlier this year that Hauwanga embarked on legal action, claiming N$500 000 from Vilho for allegedly damaging his reputation.
Hauwanga alleged that Vilho made false statements about him in audio recordings that were circulated on social media last year.
The statements made by Vilho were false and defamatory and depicted him as being a dishonest businessman, a land grabber, stupid, dishonest, a beneficiary of corruption and not worthy of being associated with a political campaign of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Hauwanga alleged in a defamation claim filed at the Windhoek High Court.
Hauwanga also claimed that Vilho alleged he owed him money. Vilho claimed that Hauwanga used the money owed in 2022 for a political campaign backing Nandi-Ndaitwah against then-prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta.
Vilho’s “defamatory statements, innuendos, insinuations and suggestions were widely published and circulated on WhatsApp”, Hauwanga claimed.
He also claimed that Vilho’s alleged comments injured his dignity “and were circulated and published with the sole intention to achieve maximum damage and harm to the reputation and dignity” of Hauwanga.
Hauwanga asked the court to order Vilho to pay N$500 000 to him because of the comments he had made, and also to declare that Vilho’s remarks were false and defamatory.
In addition to that, Hauwanga asked the court to direct Vilho to unconditionally retract his remarks and unreservedly apologise to him.
Vilho has notified the court that he intends to oppose Hauwanga’s legal action. The case was postponed to 25 June.
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