Sex with girl, 15, puts officer in court

By Alphonse Porau
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Cosmas Bidar says having sex with an underage girl with or without her consent is a criminal offence.
He related his comments to a case of a reserve police officer, Marshall Ipmaramba, 21, from East Sepik, who appeared in court charged with one count of rape.
Ipmaramba is alleged to have sexually penetrated a 15-year-old grade 9 girl from a Nation Capital District school. Bidar said whether the girl agreed to have sex or not, as far as the law was concerned, she was underaged and sex with her was a criminal offence.
It was alleged that on Aug 11, Ipmaramba, who was the girl’s boyfriend at that time, took the girl to a lodge at Gerehu Stage Four and had sex with her.
The matter was reported to police who apprehended the accused and charged him with sexual penetration of an underage girl.
The accused was granted bail for K500  but was given conditions to remain in National Capital District, to attend his case on certain dates and times set by the court and not to interfere with any state witnesses or the victim.