Rape accused trainee doctor’s bail on hold
The bail hearing of Dennis Noa, a medical intern at Katutura Intermediate State Hospital, has been put on hold to allow further police investigations.
Noa (26) is facing a charge of rape for allegedly sodomising an 18-year-old male patient on 10 April.
His bail hearing was scheduled to start yesterday in Katutura Magistrate’s Court before magistrate Alexis Diergaardt. However, on the request of the state, the matter was postponed to 14 May. Consequently, Noa was remanded in police custody.
“The state wants to conduct investigations before the application as discussed with the defence. If we finish early, we will place the case on the roll,” explained prosecutor Fillemon Nyau.
Noa’s defence lawyer Thabang Phatela said they are not abandoning the bail application but will afford the state time to comply with instructions.
Noa has been in police custody since his arrest on 10 April.
Court documents indicate that Noa allegedly sodomised the patient who reportedly suffered head trauma and is in an uncommunicative state.
As such, he is rendered incapable of understanding the nature of the sexual act or communicating unwillingness to take part in the act.
According to police reports at the time, the suspect disappeared with the motor vehicle accident patient, who was scheduled for a physiotherapy appointment.
Upon reappearing, other staff members discovered an unused condom, which prompted them to investigate, and a medical check-up uncovered that forceful anal penetration had occurred.
Staff members alerted the police and a case was opened.