Pang to stand trial for rape

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Jamie Pang

By BEVERLY PETER
A COMMITTAL Court has found enough evidence to commit Sanctuary hotel operations manager Jamie Pang to stand trial for allegedly raping a woman in Port Moresby last year.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii made the ruling at Waigaini yesterday, saying the police evidence showed that Pang, 43, of Sydney, Australia did rape a 20-year-old woman at Sanctuary hotel last Oct12 without her consent.
Nii said: “The evidence is sufficient to make a serious case against Pang in the National Court.”
He said Pang through his lawyer Gregg Sheppard submitted that the victim gave her consent and the act of oral sex was done after the victim was intoxicated with drug.
“A consent must be given by someone willing and freely agreeing to a proposal or request of another person,” magistrate Nii said.
He said he assessed the evidence and submissions and noted in respect to the issue of consent that the alleged offence happened after Pang intoxicated the victim with cocaine.
He said he did not understand what Pang meant when he remained silent in his record of interview with police but his lawyer said the alleged act was done with consent.
“I cannot assume that the silence means the victim consented to the alleged act but whatever it may be unmistakably expressed than implied,” magistrate Nii said.
Pang was arrested on Feb 21, for allegedly raping Macki Jack last Oct 20.
A video of a policeman threatening the alleged victim not to report to the police the alleged rape went viral which provoked the police to conduct investigation and had him arrested.
He was arrested while in Immigration custody at Bomana Detention Centre for breaching his visa condition by being in possession of firearms and drug and was later transferred to Bomana prison after he was arraigned with rape charge.
He pleaded guilty for breaching his visa condition and paid a court fine of K4,000.
His bail application in both the Committal and National Court was refused due to the seriousness of the allegations involved in the offence and in the interest of justice.
A warrant of remand was issued for Pang to be remanded in Bomana prison and the matter returned on June 29 for declaration of statement.