DOUGLAS Robert Brook, a 65-year-old British tourist has been whisked to court for taking nude pictures of children from the San community of Namibia.
According to the ‘Informante,‘ News platform in Windhoek, Brook was arrested last weekend after he was caught sexually molesting as well as forcing San children to take off their clothes and pose before his camera, so that he may take their photos in the nude.
The incident occurred at the Grashoek Living Museum in Tsumkwe.
The lewd tourist was arraigned before the Grootfontein Magistrate court.
Brook faces 38 charges, including, rape, indecent assault, combating of in trafficking of humans, child labour and exploitation of minors as well as contravening several sections the Childcare and protection act 3 of 2015.
The charges were read together with the African charter and UN convention and protocol.
The suspect appeared before Magistrate Abraham Abraham, whilst the state was represented by Prosecutor Erastus Christian.
It is alleged that Brook mostly took nude photographs of 34 minors whilst they were naked and is also accused of fondling the children’s private parts.
According to a police report from Odjozondjupa region senior police Inspector Maureen Mbeha, the suspect allegedly touched the breasts and buttocks of 16 teenage girls, 14 teenage boys and three other minors.
Some of the nude photographs of the children are alleged to have been found in the man’s camera which was confiscated at the Maroelaboom police station.
Brook is reported to have entered Namibia on 15 May 2025, as a tourist on a leisure vacation.
The case has been adjoined to 19 to 20th June 2025 for further investigations.
The Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism has since condemned the actions, stating that the act is not only deeply disrespectful to the cultural heritage of the San community, but it also constitutes a serious violation of Namibia’s laws regarding the protection of minors and goes against the requisite ethical conduct while engaging with indigenous communities.
“The Ministry stands by the protection and safeguarding of the children as articulated in Article 8 of the Namibian Constitution, dealing with ‘Respect for human dignity,’ It is unacceptable for any visitor, foreign or local, to exploit or objectify indigenous communities or their children for any purpose, including lewd photography,” Stated Ndeshipanda Hamunyela the public relations officer for Namibia’s the environment and tourism ministry