Rape accused councillor out on bail

NATIONAL Council member for the Hardap region Simon Dukeleni was released on N$2 000 bail following a brief appearance in the Mariental magistrate’s court on a rape charge on Friday.

Dukeleni, who is also Mariental rural constituency councillor, was not asked to plead. His case was postponed to 9 June to allow for further police investigations. Presiding magistrate Eugene Libebe granted Dukeleni bail on condition that he does not make any indirect or direct contact with the complainant by visiting her at her home, workplace or calling her. Prosecutor Annakleta Kandjimi did not oppose the granting of bail. Dukeleni’s lawyer SG Garbers did not object to the bail conditions, but requested that his client be allowed to attend meetings convened at the complainant’s workplace (where corporate meetings are sometimes held) with prior permission from the investigating officer.