The head of a team investigating the alleged rape of an 18-year-old girl by a group of police officers in the East Sepik region of Papua New Guinea, says he will recommend the immediate suspension of any officers identified.
It's alleged that officers from Wewak police station raped the girl during a raid on a village to apprehend her father, an escaped prisoner.
The team, headed by acting assistant police commissioner Donald Yamasombi, is hoping to meet with the complainant and witnesses by the end of today.
Mr Yamasombi says officers who are implicated should be stood down.
"That would be the recommendation that I would take on because that would be a criminal act and actions need to be taken there and then. We had a meeting with the police station commander and the provincial police commander advising them that we are here for an impartial police investigation into the allegations."
Donald Yamasombi was unable to say whether the alleged rape-victim's family, who were detained during the raid, are still in jail.
