Rape suspect to stand trial

A 25-YEAR-OLD man, who is alleged to have raped his aunt, has been committed to stand trial in the National Court.
Committal Court magistrate Pious Tapil told Scotty Yalom, from Tuam village in Tewai-Siassi,
Morobe, that the evidence before the court from the victim and other witnesses had confirmed his charge.
“The court also is provided with a medical report which also stated that the victim was raped and that there is more than enough evidence to commit you to stand trial at the National Court,” Tapil told Yalom.
Tapil told the defendant that in his statement to the court, he confirmed that he had committed the alleged crime on Nov 13 last year at a location while residing with his aunt and her husband.
Yalom was committed to the National Court for trial on March 18.
In another rape case, a 54-year-old man was also committed to stand trial at the National Court after sufficient evidence were established in court pertaining to one count of rape of a child under the age of 12 years. The court confirmed the age of the victim was 10 years from the medical report at the time of the alleged offence being committed.
“The court noted the victim’s statement confirming that you allegedly committed the crime on Nov 13, 2023, at her school where you were employed as a security guard,” Tapil told the accused, from Gumbum village, Nawaeb in Morobe.
Tapil noted that the accused denied the allegation through his statement to the court but the court has established there was sufficient evidence to prove the elements of the charge.
The suspect will appear at the National Court for mention on March 25.