Man to stand trial for alleged rape of minor

A 21-YEAR-OLD man has been committed to stand trial in the National Court for raping a minor at her home in Tabubil, Western.
Tabubil District Court Magistrate Billy Pidu found sufficient evidence to commit Papson Timothy from Busulmin village, Telefomin, West Sepik, to trial either in Kiunga or Tabubil when National Court dates were set.
Timothy was charged with one count of sexually penetrating a seven-year-old victim under Section 229 (A) (1) of the Criminal Code Chapter 262, as amended.
The police report alleged that at around 9am on March 16, Timothy visited the victim while she was with her uncle at her house at Finalbin village.
The victim’s parents were working in their garden and the child had been left in the care of her uncle.
The accused is alleged to have committed the offence after the girl had fallen asleep in the kitchen and he (Timothy) told the uncle he would carry her and put her in a bedroom while he (uncle) cooked food.
The uncle became suspicious and went to check on his niece when the accused did not return immediately to the kitchen.
Upon entering the room, the uncle saw the accused partially undressed.
Timothy was alleged to have sexually penetrated the victim at that time.
The victim did not tell her uncle about the incident but waited for her parents to return before telling them what had happened.
She was brought to Tabubil Hospital where it was confirmed that she had been raped and a formal complaint was lodged with Tabubil police and Timothy was arrested and charged.
The accused has been remanded at the Nimgerum Correctional Centre awaiting a trial date in the National Court.