12-year jail term sought for rape

By VANESSA NIKEN
THE Waigani National Court will make a decision on the submission of sentence for a man who pleaded guilty of raping a 10-year-old girl.
Acting Judge Laura Wawun-Kuvi on Wednesday when adjourning the matter, instructed Orex Mea, 30, from Poiva village, Ihu, Gulf, to return to court on June 17 for sentencing.
State lawyer Elizabeth Kave said Mea’s crime was a serious breach of trust as he had been considered a part of the family and the age of the victim.
Kave submitted that an appropriate sentencing range was between eight and 12 years.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The community-based correctional services compiled a pre-sentence report upon the direction of Justice Kuvi.
Defence lawyer Kim Watakapura said Mea had no prior convictions, had shown remorse.
She added that Mea had pleaded guilty to save the court’s time and State’s resources as well as preventing the victim from testifying in court.
Meanwhile, Mea apologised to the court, the victim and her family.
Defence submitted that while a sentence of between nine and 12 years of imprisonment was appropriate, Watakapura asked that the whole or part of the sentence proposed be suspended.
Mea lived with the victim’s family in Tokarara, Port Moresby for over a decade.
He is the friend of the victim’s uncle (mother’s brother).
The offence was allegedly committed on June 24, 2019.
The victim returned home after school, had a shower, got dressed and went to her parents’ room to do her homework.
She went to the fridge to get a drink of water and was grabbed by Mea who forced her into a room and allegedly raped her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone.
The victim was then released and ran out of the room.
She later told a friend what had happened and her parents eventually found out.Mea was charged with sexual penetration of a minor.