Policeman arrested over rape of teenage girl in Lakes State

Authorities in Awerial say that a policeman accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in Awerial County of Lakes State was arrested last Friday.

Authorities in Awerial say that a policeman accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in Awerial County of Lakes State was arrested last Friday. 

The police chief inspector in Awerial County, Bol Tier, told Radio Tamazuj that the suspect was apprehended and is now in police custody in Mingkaman.

"This incident occurred in Dor Payam, and it has taken almost seven days before the case reached us in the police station in Mingkaman. The alleged rape suspect is now kept in police custody for investigations and the teenage girl was taken to hospital for examination," Tier said.

He said the police are investigating the incident and will forward the case to the court. 

The clinical officer in charge of Mingkaman Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) Dau Bul Dau said after examining the girl, he found no major injuries. 

"I am the one treating the girl who was allegedly raped. I have given her some antibiotics after the examination. The case has taken long in the village without being quickly reported," said Bul.

Teresa Achuei, a reproductive health worker in Mingkaman PHCC, confirmed the incident happened but said it was reported late.

"The rape survivor is now with me in the PHCC. But since it has taken long a long time, I just sat down with a rape survivor, and she narrated what happened to her when she was raped at night by a person she suspected to be a policeman while sleeping," Achuei said. 

The victim's relative, Albino Aguk Gop, said the girl was raped while asleep by a man in police uniform in Dor Payam days after her parents traveled to Mingkaman for treatment, leaving her to care for her younger siblings.