A police chief inspector in Yirol East County of Lakes state has been arrested for allegedly impregnating a 16-year-old schoolgirl, police said.
Bol Duany, the police chief inspector of Yirol West County, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that the Yirol East police chief inspector Taban Awel is under police custody in Yirol West County for investigation.
” The police chief inspector accused of impregnating a 16-year-old schoolgirl is with me here in Yirol west county police for investigation and the girl was just brought yesterday (Wednesday) from Yirol East County,” he said
Bol further said after the end of the police investigation, the case will be taken to court for trial.
“Whether the police chief inspector wants to marry her or not, he will be the one to tell the court. Our work is to make an investigation and send their case to court for trial”, he explained.
Meanwhile, the executive director of Yirol East County, Dhuor Apiu, confirmed that the police chief inspector of Yirol West County is accused of impregnating a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
“I heard that the case has been forwarded to the attorney general after a police investigation, and then it will be taken to county court,” he said.
“This incident occurred when I was away. I found that the case of the police chief inspector accused of impregnating a school girl already transferred to Yirol West county, and the case will be taken to court for trial,” he added.
Article 17 of the South Sudan constitution defines a child as anyone under the age of 18.
According to the Child Act of 2008, every child has the right to be protected from sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, including but not limited to rape, incest, inducement or coercion of a child to witness or engage in sexual activity.
It further says whoever commits such an offence shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years on conviction.