Douglas Robert Brook, a 65-year-old British tourist, has been arrested in Namibia on 38 criminal charges, including rape, indecent assault, and child exploitation, after allegedly sexually abusing minors and taking nude photographs of them during a holiday in the country’s central Otjozondjupa region. According to Namibian police and local media, Brook specifically targeted children from the San community, one of the country’s most vulnerable indigenous groups, long marginalized and facing limited access to legal protection and social services.
Authorities allege that Brook inappropriately touched both young girls and boys and used sweets and money to lure 34 children—some as young as 10—into posing nude for photographs. The material was reportedly discovered on a confiscated camera, leading to his arrest. The crimes are believed to have taken place while Brook was visiting rural villages near the tourist-popular central region of Namibia, which is renowned for its cultural diversity and indigenous heritage.
Brook made his first court appearance this week at the Grootfontein Magistrate’s Court, where he was denied bail and remanded in custody. The court has postponed the case to next month to allow investigators more time to gather evidence. The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism condemned the alleged acts in a public statement, describing them as a “serious violation of human dignity” and “an unacceptable exploitation of the San community”. “Visitors must respect the cultural and personal integrity of our communities,” the ministry said. “This abuse of vulnerable children cannot be tolerated under any circumstance.”
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is in contact with Namibian authorities and is monitoring the situation. Rights groups have called for stricter child protection laws, better regulation of tourist interactions with indigenous populations, and harsher penalties for sex tourism and exploitation, which they warn could be increasing in remote areas with minimal oversight. Namibia, known for its eco-tourism appeal and indigenous cultures, has pledged to take stronger measures to protect at-risk communities, particularly in the wake of rising concerns over foreign visitors engaging in exploitative behavior.
