Man facing same charge – again

By GIDEON KINDIWA
A MAN accused of persistent sexual abuse of a minor appeared in the Waigani Committal Court after being arrested for the second time over the same offence.
Max Kopen, from Chimbu, was arrested on Jan 28 last year for alleged persistent sexual abuse of a girl, 13.
The matter was struck out and he was released from custody in May because his court file was not completed. However, he was re-arrested in August and detained.
Kopen was unemployed and single. He used to live at 9-Mile in Port Moresby, and so did the victim and her family.
Court was told that between April and December 2017, the accused had allegedly lured the victim continuously with money and had sexual intercourse with her on 12 occasions.
On Dec 16, 2017 a person allegedly saw Kopen sexually penetrating the victim in the bathroom and raised the alarm and the victim’s brother chased Kopen out and assaulted him.
Kopen denied the allegations, saying that since he was a betel nut seller and had a lot of money, people were jealous of him and accused him.
Kopen’s lawyer from the Public Solicitor’s Office submitted that the committal court should be satisfied with enough evidence from police before committing the accused to a trial. The lawyer also submitted that results of the medical examination was not clear and did not indicate that the victim was sexually penetrated.
However, police prosecutor Joseph Sangam argued that the accused was caught in the act “red-handed” and witnesses have given their statements and this did not need a medical report to prove.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar adjourned the case.