Officers fail to complete files

MANY serious cases that should be heard had to be struck out because arresting officers failed to complete their files on time, Lae District Court Senior Magistrate Pious Tapil says.
“Police arresting officers are, therefore, reminded that it is vital for them to be present in court or provide a letter informing the court of their delay in completing court files,” he said. “We cannot hold defendants for more than the required time.
“This is against their rights.
“If files are not ready in court, then cases had to be struck out and the accused have to be discharged.”
Magistrate Tapil said when there is a form of notification made to court by the arresting officer for a particular case, then the court would consider that and have the case adjourned further to give time for the completion of the court file.
He made the remarks when striking off a rape case against Ramuel Joshua, 27, from Tewai Siassi’s Tarawe village in Morobe yesterday.
“The responsibility is for the arresting officer to inform the court,” he said. “If the arresting officer could not inform the court, then we have to consider the time spent in custody and the rights of the accused being held in custody.”
Magistrate Tapil advised Joshua that if he was the kind of person who usually committed such crime on underage girls, he should stop.
The court noted that Joshua was alleged to have raped a 10-year-old girl after abducting her in front of her aunt, dragged her into the bush with a knife pointed at her throat.
The incident allegedly happened in Tarawe village on June 9, 2018, between 6pm and 7pm.
Joshua was arrested at Voco Point in Lae on Oct 15.
Medical examination obtained at Lablab health centre confirmed that the girl was raped.