A 20-year-old man linked to the death of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son was arrested Monday at Otavi after the deceased’s body was found buried in a fresh shallow grave at the town.

Namibian Police Force Unit Commander for Community Affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Tuesday in an interview with Nampa said the child’s body was discovered by community members who had joined a police search for the boy on Monday.

The deceased was identified as Dickson Gaeseb, Mbeha said.

She explained that the boy was on Sunday morning allegedly left in the care of the suspect, while his mother went to attend a funeral service in town.

“Upon her return at about 10h00, the boy was nowhere to be found while the suspect allegedly kept saying he (boy) was busy playing somewhere with other children,” said Mbeha.

Around 15h00 on Sunday, the 20-year-old mother started looking and asking around the Khoaeb location for her child, said the police officer.

The woman was then advised to report the child as missing at the Otavi Police Station.

At 17h00, the police and some community members launched a search for the boy around Khoaeb.

The search continued Monday morning, and led them to where the suspect on Sunday dumped waste materials, said Mbeha.

“A few metres from where he dumped the waste, a shallow grave where the deceased’s body was buried was discovered,” Mbeha said.

The suspect was on Monday morning detained for questioning, and later in the afternoon arrested on charges of murder and attempt to defeat the course of justice.

An autopsy on the body is expected to be performed at the Otjiwarongo State Hospital, while the suspect makes his first appearance in the Otavi Magistrate’s Court this week.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency