Mother hides child from police

A MOTHER took her 12-year-old daughter away from hospital in a deliberate attempt to stall or prevent police investigations, police claim.
The mother was living with the accused, who allegedly abused the girl inside a car along Toliman Circuit, in Gerehu, Port Moresby, they said. National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Perou N’Dranou said the suspect was a 43-year-old man with a criminal record.
A police patrol caught him in the act and he was arrested and charged.
The victim was taken to hospital for medical examination and left in her mother’s care.
The woman, who was living with the suspect, took the victim away and hid her from police, police claimed.
N’Dranou said the woman may have acted against her will and under duress or she was probably threatened and told to disrupt the investigation.
He appealed to the woman to bring the victim to the Family and Sexual Violence Unit at Boroko Police Station to be referred for counselling and to complete her medical examination.
He said formalities needed to be completed as this was a paedophile case that required the process of criminal investigations.
N’Dranou warned that police could also arrest the victim’s mother for interfering with police investigation or for aiding and abetting a crime suspect.