Woman, 17, raped, killed

By JAMES GUMUNO
SIX men charged with abduction, rape and murder of a 17-year-old married woman from Kandep in Enga are locked up in the Hagen police cells awaiting court appearance.
Eastern End police divisional commander Nema Mondia told The National yesterday that the woman was abducted from her village at Wara Wau in Jiwaka on Dec 16.
He said the suspects allegedly took her in a bus to Komun Crusher, a few kilometres away from the Enga block, where she was repeatedly gang-raped and killed.
They left the body beside the river bank.
Mondia identified the woman as Jacklin John, from Wage village in the Kandep district and who was married to a layman from a Seventh Day Adventist Church in the area.
Mondia said three suspects allegedly took her from a small village theatre and they were later arrested with the help of the Enga community at Wara Wau on Dec 23.
Mondia said a search was conducted by the people and they found the body of the woman beside the banks last Friday.
He said further investigations led to the arrest of three other men on Saturday. They allegedly also took part in the gang-rape.
Mondia said all the suspects involved were behind bars.