Child rape suspect to stand trial

By JACINTA COHLEE
A 73-YEAR-OLD man, charged with raping a seven-year-old girl, was committed by a Committal Court in Lae to stand trial in the National Court.
Magistrate Pious Tapil, on Monday, said there was enough evidence against a man from Chimbu.
He said a medical certificate was presented to the court that indicated the alleged offence was committed by the suspect.
The man will appear before the National Court on Dec 12.
The court heard that on June 18 at New Block/Tapiok Market, Tent City in Lae, the suspect allegedly called the girl over to his house because they were neighbours.
Police alleged that the suspect took the girl into his bedroom, setting her on the bed and told her that he would always give her money and told her to remove her trousers.
The accused then allegedly removed the girl’s trousers and inserted his finger into her vagina.
In the police summary to court, the girl alleged that this was not the first time the accused had done this to her.
The court also learnt that the suspect allegedly raped the girl twice on different occasions by inserting his fingers into her vagina.
It was alleged that the girl had a mental disability which the suspect took advantage of by offering her K1.10 to rape her.