"Three farmers from the Karibib district were arrested on Saturday after a man, whom they suspected to be a poacher, accused them of torturing him on one of the farms where they allegedly held him hostage.
Klaus (53) and Patrick Späth (21), and Bruce Visagie (38), made their first appearance on a charge of attempted murder in the Karibib Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
After hearing their statements, Magistrate Razikua Kaviua changed the charge to assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and released them on bail of N$1 000 each.
On Friday, the farmers apprehended a 21-year-old man whom they had found on one of the farms near Otjimbingwe. A spear and bloody clothes were found near him, the Police told The Namibian.
The farmers allegedly took him to one of the farms where they allegedly locked him up in a room, tied him up with wire and beat him. The area has been plagued by poachers over the last couple of years.
The suspected poacher allegedly managed to escape after the farmers untied him, and made his way to the Police station at Otjimbingwe where he laid a charge of attempted murder against them.
However, Police sources said the man showed no signs of torture and a medical check-up confirmed this. The farmers were allegedly questioned by the Police, during which they allegedly admitted to apprehending the man on suspicion of poaching and "treating him harshly".
"We arrested them on a charge of attempted murder, alternatively assault GBH on Saturday, and they made their first appearance in Karibib in Tuesday. The magistrate lowered the charges to assault GBH," the source said.
The case was postponed to March 29.
According to the Police, the suspected poacher may also be facing a charge of unlawful entry. His excuse was apparently that he was part of a group of five men who went for awalk in the bush and got lost." http://allafrica.com/stories/201101310282.html
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