Cop gets 14yrs for rape

National

THE 14-year jail term imposed on a police officer convicted of rape should serve as warning to law enforcers to uphold the law instead of breaking it, a senior officer says.
Northern police commander Chief Inspector Lincoln Gerari said it was a sad day for the police in Popondetta but the sentencing should serve as a lesson to all that no-one was above the law.
Justice Panuel Mogish in the National Court in Popondetta found Sammy Augustine guilty of raping a woman in 2013.
Gerari said police officers were expected to be enforcing the law, not breaking it.
“The penalty will be harsh. When we go out of line, this is what is expected. I hope all other police officers will take heed of this,” he said.
According to Gerari, the incident happened in Kokoda when the woman had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint.
He said Augustine, from East Sepik, was on duty and locked up the woman. He returned later under the influence of alcohol and raped her.
Gerari said after the sentencing, the families were emotional “seeing their father being taken to prison”.
“But that’s what it takes when members of the disciplined forces and official of the law enforcement agencies are caught in such situations,” Gerari said.
“I urge all policemen and women in Northern to take this as a warning and refrain from such behaviour.”