A traditional healer accused of violating a grave and the corpse of a two-year-old boy at Tsinstabis settlement in the Oshikoto Region last October has been remanded in police custody by the Tsumeb Magistrate's Court.

Lukas Sikerete made his second appearance before Magistrate Adolf Namushinga, who denied him bail pending further investigations into the matter.

Appearing before the Tsumeb Magistrate's Court, Sikerete pleaded not guilty to the charges he is facing of unlawfully and intentionally violating a grave and disturbing the remains of Albert Gauswas.

The accused, who trades as a traditional healer at the Tsintsabis settlement, indicated to Magistrate Namushinga that he would be representing himself in the matter. 

Sikerete is accused of removing the skull and some body parts of Gauswas, which he later took to his house for alleged ritual purposes.

Gauswas died in April 2023 at !Gomkhaos Village, situated on the outskirts of the settlement.

The matter has been postponed to March 20 this year for further police investigations.

Public Prosecutor Karina Harases represented the state.