A Windhoek resident who was responsible for a security breach at State House at the end of April, when he was found naked in a presidential guest house, has been assessed to be mentally unfit for a trial.
Giano Seibeb (29) “is not fit to stand trial, he cannot follow and understand the court proceedings, and cannot make a proper defence”, a psychiatrist says in a psychiatric evaluation report submitted to the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Psychiatrist Nelao Mhata reported to the court that Seibeb has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and substance use disorder.
Mhata concluded that at the time Seibeb allegedly committed the offences he is charged with, “he was suffering from a mental condition that could have made him incapable of appreciating and realising the wrongfulness of his act, and the consequences of his actions”.
Mhata also stated: “His actions were influenced by a mental defect. Therefore, he is not accountable.”
Seibeb was referred for psychiatric observation when he made a first court appearance on charges of trespassing, housebreaking with intent to commit a crime unknown to the state, and indecent exposure, which is a contravention of a section of the Combating of Immoral Practices Act of 1980, on 5 May.
He is alleged to have been found in a state of undress in a guest house at State House in Windhoek on 30 April.
He is also alleged to have broken into the house of a senior police officer in Windhoek on 21 April.
In Mhata’s report, it is stated that Seibeb “was very irrelevant in his speech and history was difficult to obtain”.
It is recorded in the report that according to Seibeb, he was arrested because he had entered the president’s house.
Seibeb claimed he had walked all the way from Lesotho on the day he was found at State House, and he then found himself in the president’s house after he had jumped over a fence.
Mhata relates in her report: “He went to the second floor and went inside the room, where he saw the president’s face. He also saw the president’s face on the first floor. He does not remember where people found him, he just saw them coming, saying they will beat him up.”
The report continues: “He also says he was naked at that time. He undressed himself because he was waiting for a woman.”
Mhata also recorded in the report: “During that time, he was hearing a voice, telling him he is the president, and that he must go to the president’s house because they are waiting for him to become the president.”
With regard to the housebreaking that Seibeb is accused of, the report says he recounted that he was walking around, saw a house that looked like his house, and also heard a voice telling him it was his house.
Seibeb had left the mental health unit at Windhoek Central Hospital on the day he went to State House, the report says as well.
His mother took him to the hospital’s mental ward on 4 April, reporting that he was saying strange things, claiming to be a prophet, hearing voices not heard by other people, and had a history of using cannabis and mandrax.
Seibeb escaped from the ward on 16 April and was returned to the ward on 19 April.
On the same day, he again escaped by climbing over a courtyard wall.
The police returned him to the ward on 22 April, Mhata says in the report.
On 28 April, when he was again in the courtyard of the mental ward, Seibeb escaped for a third time by jumping over a wall.
The police returned him to the ward the next day, but on 30 April he escaped for a fourth time by climbing over a courtyard wall.
During his court appearance yesterday, public prosecutor Tjiramuina Rutjindo informed magistrate Olga Muharukua that Seibeb is not represented by a lawyer, and that he has to have legal representation if he wants to dispute Mhata’s report.
Rutjindo also asked the magistrate to order that Seibeb be detained at Gobabis Correctional Facility, which can accommodate a person with mental challenges.
Mauharukua postponed Seibeb’s case to 24 July so that he can apply for legal aid in the meantime, and directed that he should be transferred to Gobabis Correctional Facility.
