7yrs with hard labour for rape

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
A MAN convicted of raping a 17-year-old girl on Manam Island, Madang, last year, was sentenced to seven years with the judge saying the defendant needed to be given the benefit of the doubt.
Justice Vergil Narokobi told Graham Kaboanga, 24, who will serve his time with hard labour, that he took into consideration several mitigating factors when deciding the sentence. Justice Narokobi, presiding in the Madang National Court said Kaboanga, from Baliau village, Manam Island, Bogia, had pleaded guilty, caused no permanent physical injuries to the victim, had surrendered to police and acted alone.
“The offender should be given the benefit of the doubt to live a life free of crime upon serving his sentence,” he said.
Justice Narokobi said he took three years from a 10-year sentence recommendation from the prosecutor.
He said while the crime would scar the victim and cause her and her family pain, it was not the worst case of its kind after considering a number of cases dealing with aggravated rape.
“In this case, Kaboanga pleaded guilty, no permanent physical injuries was occasioned on the victim, he surrendered to police and acted alone and not in a group,” Justice Narakobi said.
Aggravating factors included Kaboanga being armed with an axe, dragging the victim to nearby bushes, sexually assaulting her with his fingers, the trauma and shame the victim and her family would go through, no reconciliation, no compensation and the prevalence of the offence.
The incident occurred at Baliau village last Dec 12, between 9am and 9.30am.
The victim (who was 17 years old then) and her sister were returning from their garden when they encountered Kaboanga who grabbed the victim and dragged her into a nearby bush.
He forced the victim to the ground, stripped off her clothes and raped her.
He then left the scene and the victim ran away crying to her parents and reported the incident.