Train rape case to be heard in Regional Court

THE case of the waiter accused of raping a Japanese tourist aboard a luxury tourist train in August last year has been referred to the Regional Court at Swakopmund.

The case was postponed to June 11 on Wednesday after the Prosecutor General decided to charge Trevor Glen Pieterse (21), from Windhoek, with rape. Pieterse, who was a waiter on the Desert Express train, had to appear in court on Wednesday as a warrant of arrest had already been held over twice before when he was not present in court.He had to be brought from Grootfontein where he is serving an 18 months sentence for theft.Pieterse, who was released on bail of N$800 in October last year after nearly two months in custody, stands accused on a second charge of rape at Grootfontein involving a 15-year-old girl.He is alleged to have raped the teenager in January.He pleaded not guilty to the charge at the beginning of March.The case is set to continue on June 14 pending the Prosecutor-General’s decision for further prosecution.The first incident involving a 43-year-old Japanese woman, allegedly took place on board the train on August 23.Pieterse was arrested when the train reached Swakopmund.Pieterse, who was a waiter on the Desert Express train, had to appear in court on Wednesday as a warrant of arrest had already been held over twice before when he was not present in court.He had to be brought from Grootfontein where he is serving an 18 months sentence for theft.Pieterse, who was released on bail of N$800 in October last year after nearly two months in custody, stands accused on a second charge of rape at Grootfontein involving a 15-year-old girl.He is alleged to have raped the teenager in January.He pleaded not guilty to the charge at the beginning of March.The case is set to continue on June 14 pending the Prosecutor-General’s decision for further prosecution.The first incident involving a 43-year-old Japanese woman, allegedly took place on board the train on August 23.Pieterse was arrested when the train reached Swakopmund.