Namibia: Psychiatrist Pieter Van der Westhuizen Accused of Rape

Swakopmund, Nambia - Psychiatrist Pieter Van der Westhuizen, 61, is charged with three counts of rape, a count of indecent assault, and a charge of attempted murder, alternatively using a drug to stupify or overpower a woman to have unlawful intercourse with her.

 

All of the charges are based on allegations that he sexually assaulted one of his female patients at Swakopmund on 7 November 2015. The state is alleging that Van der Westhuizen arranged with one of his female patients to visit his consulting rooms for a procedure to be carried out on 7 November 2015. Van der Westhuizen allegedly also prescribed medication to the patient, and instructed her to take that on the morning before her consultation with him.

 

The patient allegedly had a panic attack after taking the prescribed tablets and was rushed to his consulting rooms, where she was given more medication, and was left with Van der Westhuizen. The state is alleging that Van der Westhuizen gave the patient an overdose of the tranquilisers Valium and Ativan and the central nervous system stimulant Ritalin, and indecently assaulted and raped her while she was alone with him at his practice.

 

Werner Menges, "Namibia: Psychiatrist to Deny Rape Charges," All Africa, 23 July 2018, https://allafrica.com/stories/201807230595.html