The man accused of attacking a Muslim woman in Paarl in September has been released on bail.

Jaco Stander is under house arrest, and must ensure that he does not make contact with Asheeqah Benjamin.

She has however opted to move out of her neighbourhood, as she is still traumatised by the incident.

Imam of the Paarl Muslim Jamaah, Sheikh Zareer Moerat has told Radio 786 that Benjamin struggled to be in the same courtroom as Stander as he appeared in the local magistrate’s court on October 22.

Benjamin wears niqab (Islamic face veil), which became the source of Stander’s assault on her. He called her a “slamse gemors”, tried to remover her niqab, and threw a bottle at her face.

Stander lives in the same area as Benjamin, and also threatened her family with a gun.

He reportedly works on board a ship, which had delayed his arrest. Police had to wait for him to return before taking action against him.

Stander’s lawyers had told the court that he suffers from Tourette’s syndrome and mental illness.

Meanwhile, Benjamin has struggled to recover from the trauma of the assault.

The case has been postponed to November 20.

[Header image: Ra-ees Moerat]