Student to stand trial over alleged rape

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
AN 18-year-old Gordon Secondary School student in Port Moresby was committed to stand trial in the National Court for allegedly trying to rape an 11-year-old girl and forcing her to perform oral sex in Gerehu’s Kesau settlement last year.
Waigani Committal Court Magistrate Paul Nii ruled that the evidence in the police file was sufficient to commit Jason Paraka, from Mendi’s Paip village in Southern Highlands, for the crime last Independence Day when the girl went to a nearby creek to have her bath.
Magistrate Nii said: “Paraka mentioned in his record of interview that he could not recall what happened as he was drunk.
“He mentioned that only a medical report would prove and disprove the allegations against him.
“I have established three things.
“He was drunk, he cannot clearly recall what had happened, it is an offence where evidence of one witness is sufficient enough to commit (for trial).
“Based on this, I am satisfied with the medical report that while Paraka, in the process of trying to push the girl on the floor before raping her, her mouth and back were bruised.
“The evidence is sufficient to tie the defendant to the alleged crime.
“If Paraka admitted in his statement that he cannot recall what had happened, then how could he recall and deny the allegation?
“Paraka cannot recall what happened but the medical report confirms his actions.”
Paraka allegedly, on Sept 16, 2020, between 2.30pm and 3pm, in Kesau, Gerehu stage 2, called the girl and took her to his house.
He allegedly held the girl’s mouth and forced her onto the ground, stripped and tried to rape her but failed because she was too young and small.
He then forced the girl to perform oral sex on him.
The girl then complained to her family members and Paraka was arrested. He is out on an extended bail.