Man, woman charged with rape of niece

 A MAN and a woman have appeared in court charged with rape and released on bail on the condition they do not interfere with State witnesses.

Their names have been withheld to protect the identity of complainant, who is the niece of the woman. 

Kokopo district court Magistrate George Kereker granted them K700 bail each.

The two appeared in court last Friday and were remanded in custody.

They again appeared on Monday and were granted bail. 

A surety of K500 was taken up by a community leader to ensure the two abided by their bail conditions. 

The case has been adjourned to Nov 28.

The court heard that the alleged rapes took place on Oct 11 and 13 in Kokopo. 

The man, an employee of the Internal Revenue Commission based in Port Moresby, was visiting East New Britain. 

It is alleged that the woman arranged that he meet up with her niece in Kokopo and sleep with her.

The court heard that on their first meeting in Kokopo town, the man gave her a mobile phone. 

He later called her to meet him but she refused.

The woman then forced her niece to meet with the man at a hotel in the province. 

She met the man but then locked herself in the hotel bathroom all night.

The man called the woman to report that her niece had refused to sleep with him.

The court heard the woman assaulted her niece and threatened to kick her out of their home if she did not obey her.

The complainant then reluctantly met the man at a guesthouse in town where she slept with him against her will.

She later related the incident to her elder sister who reported the matter to police.