Let law deal with cases, police told

By CLARISSA MOI
POLICE do not have the power to mediate sexual offences involving minors, Waigani Commital Court Magistrate Paul Nii says.
“The court will deal with this matter,” he said.
“This is an offence committed on a seven-year-old girl.
“We have the law, let the law deal with it.
“What is the purpose of the Criminal Code Act when police are running around trying to conduct mediations?
“The rise and fall of this case will be determined by the court once evidence is brought before the court. Not the police trying to achieve justice.
“I discourage mediation, especially matters of sexual offences involving children.
“For this reason, I will have your bail set aside and you will be remanded,” Magistrate Nii told Lucas Londe Kepson yesterday. Kepson, 57, from Wapenamanda’s Kanamanda village in Enga, is alleged to have on Oct 22 in Gerehu Stage 6, sexually assaulted the minor.
Kepson told the court that policemen had told him to reconcile outside of court and that the mediation date was set.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Joseph Sangam had applied to revoke Kepson’s bail on the grounds that he had escaped from custody, was chased and taken back.
Sangam said Kepson was released on bail granted by the National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu.
“We are concerned with Kepson’s attitude that immediately after he was arrested, he escaped,” he said.
Magistrate Nii said: “I will summon Ikumu to come to court on Monday and explain the circumstances in granting bail to the accused.”