Fansided

Namibian flag bearer Jonas Junius arrested on suspicion of sexual assault

By Adam Addicott

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 06: A general view of the empty boxing ring with official logo on the mat prior to Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 06: A general view of the empty boxing ring with official logo on the mat prior to Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Riocentro - Pavilion 6 on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Namibian flag bearer Jonas Junius has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.

The National Olympic Committee of Namibia has confirmed that boxer Jonas Junius has been arrested at the Rio Olympics on suspicion of sexual assault.

Junius, who carried his country’s flag during the opening ceremony at this year’s Games, was arrested after allegedly attempting to assault a housekeeper in the Olympic village, according to local police sources.

According to Brazilian news site O Globo, Junius grabbed the maid, kissed her and then offered her money to have sex with him. He was arrested after the housekeeper involved reported the 22-year-old to the police.

Olympic officials in Rio have commented on the incident, but were unable to specify the exact charges Junius will be facing.

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“Brazilian law needs to be respected and this is something that we have to agree on,” said Mario Andrada, spokesman for the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee. “What we need to do is make sure that all the legal procedures are being followed and we understand that they have.”

It has been reported that Junius has been transferred to Bangu prison following the incident. Following the arrest, the chef de mission of the Namibian Olympic team, Jesse Schickerling, has confirmed that the delegation is currently involved in ‘ongoing meetings’ with both the International Olympic Committee and lawyers.

22-year-old Junius was scheduled to participate in the men’s light welterweight competition. He is one of his country’s most high profile athletes after winning a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 64kg light welterweight boxing competition. Junius also won a silver medal at the 2015 All Africa Games (AAG) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The incident in Rio is the second time that an athlete has been arrested for alleged sexual assault this Olympics. The first was Moroccan boxer Hassan Saada, who was accused of trying to rape two maids at the Olympic village. The Moroccan Olympic Committee has publicly said that they believe Saada is innocent.

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