Postmaster gets 16 years for raping female staff

A POSTMASTER was jailed for 16 years by the Kokopo National Court, East New Britain,  yesterday for raping one of his female staff last year.
In passing sentence, Justice David Maliku told Roald Bariom, 34, that although he did not use any weapon when he committed the crime, rape was a serious offence.
“It becomes more serious when it is committed by people with authority,” he said.
Bariom of Dagua along the west coast of  East Sepik raped the victim at the New Rabaul Post Office on Nov 6 last year.
He had earlier sent the rest of the staff home after conducting a stock-take.
After the incident the victim reported it to the police and the Post PNG head office in Port Moresby.
Justice Maliku noted that Bariom did not apologise or express any remorse for his action.
He said Bariom had used his authority to manufacture a situation where he and the victim were alone in the post office.
Then he took advantage of the situation to rape her.
A reconciliation meeting was held between Bariom and the victim  in January but Maliku noted that Bariom did not admit his offence despite giving the victim some money.
“Because of your denial of the purpose of that reconciliation, I do not put weight on that either even so it was not pleaded,” he said.