14 Feb 2014

Wewak police station commander charged over assault in PNG

6:14 pm on 14 February 2014

A police station commander in Papua New Guinea's East Sepik province has been charged with assault of a woman who tried to lay a complaint on behalf of an alleged rape-victim last year.

An 18-year old girl claimed she was raped by a group of officers from Wewak police station during a raid on her village in early December.

The president of the East Sepik Council of Women says she and two others were beaten by the head of the police station when she went to report the incident a few days later.

A police team from Port Moresby was sent to investigate and the assistant police commissioner Donald Yamasombi says the police station commander was charged yesterday with three counts of assault.

"He appeared at the Wewak district court and he was allowed out on 2,000 kina bail, so he's now currently out on bail. At the same time he was served his suspension and he's also suspended from active duties for 21 days."

Donald Yamasombi says they expect to lay more charges against the officer within 21 days.

He says the investigation into the alleged rape is continuing.