No files, rape case struck out

By JIMMY KALEBE
THE rape case of a minor was struck out by the Lae Committal Court for want of police court files.
Magistrate Pious Tapil struck out the case as the defendant, 25, from Gumbum village, Nawaeb in Morobe, had been in remand for more than four months.
The court learned that the defendant had been in custody since last Sept 13 and the arresting officer had not made an attempt to notify the court on the progress in completing the file.
The case was struck out and the defendant was discharged from custody at Buimo Prison.
When discharging the defendant, Magistrate Tapil warned the man that the offence was serious and that the court would not be lenient on him if he returned to court.
According to the police summary, the man allegedly committed the offence last Aug 21 at Azimot, 11-Mile in Lae.
The court heard that the man allegedly raped the victim, who was under 12 years, by inserting his finger into her private parts.
The man was taken to the police station by the people.
In another rape case, the Committal Court gave police officers until March 18 to complete an investigation and have the files ready for the case against Robin Okopu, 50, of Yakrumbuk village, Ambunti-Dreikikier, East Sepik.
Magistrate Tapil described the offence as incest as the victim was Okopu’s daughter.
He said a proper application for bail would need to be made to the court.
“If a proper bail application is made early, the court can look into that.
“And also the court is mindful of your presence in the community which can affect the victim mentally or that you might interfere with the victim or state witnesses,” Magistrate Tapil.
Okopu is alleged to have committed the offence between the second week of last November and Dec 15 at his residence at Kamkumung in Lae.