Magistrates try to crack cell mystery by calling in cops

TWO Mt Hagen District Court magistrates in separate proceedings summoned police officers to appear in court and explain why alleged offenders locked up in the police cell continued to disappear.
Senior provincial magistrate Betty Jacob said yesterday that so many cases were struck out because offenders locked up in police cells were released and they disappeared.
She said that someone who was arrested and locked up in the cell remained innocent until proven guilty by the court.
Jacob said that it was not good when some people hijacked the process and released offenders.
In the court presided over by Magistrate Jacinta Doa, the court summoned an arresting officer to appear and explain why he allegedly released a rape suspect in police custody.
Magistrate Doa issued the order yesterday after police prosecutor Paul Urangian made an application in court for the arresting officer to come and explain.
The court summoned Const Raymon Nelson to appear tomorrow to explain why he allegedly released Inoch Dakta from the police cell.
Police said Dakta, 19, from Waibip village in Tambul-Nebilyer, was locked up but Nelson allegedly freed him.
Police alleged that Dakta threatened a female student attending Togoba Secondary on Nov 6, last year with a bush knife and raped her.
Police said that the victim was returning from school when the suspect allegedly raped her around 3.20pm at Tempnga village in Nebilyer.
Police claimed that Dakta then got her mobile phone worth K400 and escaped.
Police said the relatives of the suspect caught him and took him to the Mt Hagen Police Station the next day and handed him over to police.
Police said that the suspect was arrested and charged with rape and locked up but later released.
He first appeared in court on Nov 29 for mention and his case was adjourned to yesterday, but he was released from cell and didn’t appear in court.