RAPE victims in PNG need immediate medical examinations and their perpetrators need to be arrested and charged as soon as possible, Magistrate Paul Puri Nii says. “Why did it take so long for the police in Baiyer to arrest Joel Pen?” he said. “Where is the victim now.” Pen, 30, who was charged with raping a 15-year-old girl in Mt Hagen on Nov 14, 2018, was arrested in Port Moresby in November – about four years after the alleged rape. Defence lawyer Jeffery Kolowe said the issue had already been sorted out, that was why Pen was not arrested then.
However, after four years, he was arrested in Port Moresby. Kolowe added that the victim got married, had children and moved on. “The reason I am asking this is because evidence may be tainted now,” Magistrate Nii said. “In rape cases, there must be medical examination. “The alleged offence occurred in 2018 and Pen was arrested recently. “The examination must be conducted immediately after the commission of the offence.” Magistrate Nii said this in the committal court in Waigani yesterday when hearing the bail application Pen, from Baiyer’s Laporambo village in Western Highlands. Police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Iga did not object the bail application. Magistrate Nii said he had considered Pen’s two guarantors affidavits including his reasons for bail. He granted Pen K500 bail on the grounds that he was not a threat. He also transferred the matter to be heard in the committal court in Mt Hagen on May 12. The National / PNG Health News Next : PNG Hospital Denies Keeping Another Body From School Fight Comments are closed.
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