Son of spy chief in court on rape charge

THE son of Namibia’s top spy will have to reappear in court next month on a case of rape, a Cabinet Minister revealed yesterday.

Police Constable Mawila Hangula, son of Lieutenant General Lucas Hangula, who heads the National Central Intelligence Service (NCIS), was reportedly charged with rape earlier this month, but the case was withdrawn. In response to questions posed by CoD president Ben Ulenga in the National Assembly yesterday, Safety and Security Minister Peter Tsheehama responded that a rape case was reported at the end of October last year, but was then withdrawn.”An investigation was launched and it came to light that the suspect is the son of the Chief of the NCIS.Upon completion of the investigation, the case was submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor General for a decision,” Tsheehama told the House.”The latter instructed that the three Police members be arraigned in the Regional Court (at Tsumeb) for charges.”Constable Hangula, son of the spy chief, was charged with rape and two other Police officers, Detective Inspector Abner Agas and Detective Sergeant M Kaypiti, were charged with being accessories after the fact to committing the crime of rape.All three were also charged with attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, the Minister told the House.Another alternative charge against all three was that of “incitement to commit the offence of compounding”.In legal language, compounding means preventing a prosecution in exchange for money.Tsheehama added that the three Policemen were arrested and appeared in court at Tsumeb on the third of this month.The case was transferred to the Regional Court at Tsumeb, where it will be heard on November 6.”All three accused were released on their own recognisance,” the Minister added.”No criminal case has been registered against the NCIS Chief,” Tsheehama said.”The question of who allegedly provided the money that was offered to the complainant to withdraw the rape case is still under investigation.Once this is completed, the case docket will be forwarded to the Prosecutor General for further instruction.”The Police docket had reportedly disappeared, but resurfaced after a complaint was laid with the Office of the Ombudsman.In response to questions posed by CoD president Ben Ulenga in the National Assembly yesterday, Safety and Security Minister Peter Tsheehama responded that a rape case was reported at the end of October last year, but was then withdrawn.”An investigation was launched and it came to light that the suspect is the son of the Chief of the NCIS.Upon completion of the investigation, the case was submitted to the Office of the Prosecutor General for a decision,” Tsheehama told the House.”The latter instructed that the three Police members be arraigned in the Regional Court (at Tsumeb) for charges.”Constable Hangula, son of the spy chief, was charged with rape and two other Police officers, Detective Inspector Abner Agas and Detective Sergeant M Kaypiti, were charged with being accessories after the fact to committing the crime of rape. All three were also charged with attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, the Minister told the House.Another alternative charge against all three was that of “incitement to commit the offence of compounding”.In legal language, compounding means preventing a prosecution in exchange for money.Tsheehama added that the three Policemen were arrested and appeared in court at Tsumeb on the third of this month.The case was transferred to the Regional Court at Tsumeb, where it will be heard on November 6.”All three accused were released on their own recognisance,” the Minister added.”No criminal case has been registered against the NCIS Chief,” Tsheehama said.”The question of who allegedly provided the money that was offered to the complainant to withdraw the rape case is still under investigation.Once this is completed, the case docket will be forwarded to the Prosecutor General for further instruction.”The Police docket had reportedly disappeared, but resurfaced after a complaint was laid with the Office of the Ombudsman.