Opuwo: A 19-year-old man accused of raping an eight-year-old boy at Otjite village in the Kunene Region over the weekend has been remanded in custody. This decision was made during a preliminary court hearing at the Opuwo Magistrate's Court on Monday, when Chief Magistrate Eden Amutenya ruled that the accused should remain in custody pending further proceedings.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Chief Inspector Vehangaiza Hindjou Ruiter, the Head of Community Affairs in the Namibian Police Force at Kunene, confirmed that the incident occurred on Saturday at Otjite village in the Otjiu area. The 19-year-old allegedly found the boy in a field near his residence and engaged in sexual intercourse with him.

Ruiter explained that the victim's mother returned from a water point and initially thought her son was playing with a neighborhood child. As she approached, she realized the situation and screamed for help, leading a group of villagers to come to her aid. This incident led to the suspect's arrest.