Rape-accused cops warned to leave witnesses alone

By GIDEON KINDIWA
A COURT has been told that two police officers facing charges of rape have been asking other officers to support them with statements favouring them.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Joseph Sangam told the Waigani Committal Court that Senior Sergeant Ben Trepi and First Constable Leo Kambao had been asking officers to make statements to support their innocence.
“They’ve been going around asking police officers to make statements on their behalf,” he said.
Sangam asked the court to restrain the two from interfering with witnesses.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar said the two were on bail which had conditions that they should be following.
“The bail conditions are very clear in terms of interfering with witnesses. In the event that they breach it, appropriate action will be taken against them,” he said.
The two were based at the Hohola Police Station in Port Moresby.
Trepi is charged with one count of sexual penetration, possession of pornographic materials and two counts of production of pornographic materials. Kambao faces one count of sexual penetration.
The woman was detained at the station on Jan 10 this year in regards to the stabbing of another woman. Because the women’s cell block had been condemned, she was allowed to stay outside the cell.
Kambao is accused of calling her into his office at about 10pm and assaulting her.
On Jan 12, it is alleged that at about 10am, Trepi took the woman into his office and played a pornographic video. He asked her to have sex but she refused. Trepi is accused of threatening her with a knife and sexually assaulting her.
The case will be heard again on April 26.