Officer charged with rape

By DOROTHY MARK
ONE policeman has been charged and another is on the run after raping a woman inside the town police station in Madang, provincial police commander Supt Jacob Singura says.
Singura said Sgt Aaron Asefa, 57, from Orumba in Ungai-Bena in Eastern Highlands who is attached with the prosecution unit, was charged with one count of rape last Friday.
He said Constable Gideon Serry Arti, in his late 30s, from Teremanda in Enga, escaped when he heard that he was going to be charged.
“I appeal to his relatives and Enga police to report any sighting of the suspect in Enga so we can have him arrested,” Singura said.
He said the officers allegedly took turns in raping a woman inside the town police station on Friday, Feb 3 between 7pm and 8pm.
According to Singura, the woman was attacked when she went to the police station to seek assistance.
Singura said there were other policemen at the police station when the incident happened but none of them made any attempt to stop the two policemen.
He said those officers would be investigated and charged accordingly.
Singura said the investigation was a bit slow because the incident happened inside the police station.
He said he heard that people would stage a protest about the rape. Singura said he would not allow the protest because police had taken the necessary steps to have the officers arrested.
“The crime has been committed and the normal course of action was taken so there is no need for a protest,” he said.
Singura said that such bad conduct would force people away from seeking help from police.