Nurse remanded after student raped

POLICE have remanded a Braun Hospital nursing office staff for allegedly raping a Grade 9 student last month.
The 46-year-old suspect allegedly raped the girl in the hospital after she sought medical treatment.
Finschhafen police said yesterday the suspect, from Siassi Island, was now held in Buimo jail in Lae waiting to be charged in court.
Dregerhafen Secondary School Board of Governing Council chairman of Bussim Stoessem also confirmed the case yesterday.
“It is a very disappointing incident … it is the first time in our school history that a student became a rape victim.
“We are doing everything possible to safe-guard our students. I am appealing to parents of students in this school to remain calm as we are also doing our best to ensure the welfare of our female students are looked after and their education is not disrupted,” he added.
Stossem said the hospital should by now be aware of the rape and tighten its security to avoid or prevent such attacks.
“We have no differences with the hospital. We are now working closely with the hospital management to get things sorted out on the alleged rape and in the future,” he added.
Finschhafen police station commander Sgt Taki Dewop said the district had recorded a slight increase in child sexual abuse cases.
“It is not good. Child sexual abuse is the concern of everyone and the crime needs to be checked and reduced. Otherwise, Finschhafen is relatively quiet with minor crimes in home-brew and illicit drug consumption.
“We are in control but the main hindrance we are facing now is logistics,” Dewop said.
The National could not reach the hospital management for comments.
Meanwhile, Finschhafen opened its legal year in Gagidu town on Monday. The National Court in Lae is currently on its two-week court circuit rounds in the district that started this week.