8 Morata Rape Suspects Caught, 3 Still At Large

Police say they have apprehended 8 out of 11 alleged prime suspects behind the New Year’s Day pack rape of two teenaged girls and two elderly women at Morata in Port Moresby.

Acting Police Station Commander Waigani, Chief Sergeant Andrew Geluwa said 2 secondary suspects were also arrested and charged for harboring some of the 8 prime suspects.

All male suspects are currently locked up at the Boroko jail cells, while police continue with investigations in pursuit of the other three prime male suspects.

They were captured during the previous weekend.

“From the intelligence received, we located the 8 suspects who were scattered around Morata, Tokarara and Badili in the City. We captured them all and transferred them to the Boroko cells while we continue our investigations,” Chief Sergeant Geluwa said.

Geluwa told PNG TV Live there may be more prime suspects, but that depends entirely on the facts and evidence acquired through the interrogation of the captured suspects and ongoing police investigations.

“The number of prime suspects we are dealing with is 11, but there’s a possibility that we may also be handling 18. We have 11 names and upon that they may potentially lead us to others,” Geluwa added, “The 8 who are currently locked up will charged under the Criminal Code and it depends on the evidence that will supplied by the victims together with police investigations,” He added.

On January 5 2016, police initially identified three male suspects who were detained and interrogated, but were later released, by virtue of insufficient evidence.

But Acting PSC Geluwa, is confident of apprehending the other 3 prime suspects who are currently on the run and ensure that justice is served.

“Operations are continuing and we will surely get them – as I’ve said out team of officers are working tirelessly and in the event, we will still get them,” Geluwa said.

The 11 prime suspects, according to Chief Sergeant Geluwa, are from the Highlands Region but their specific ethnicity and tribal backgrounds will be released upon conclusion of police investigations.

Photo Caption(s): (1) Female victims, among them are two 15 year old girls 

PNG TV / PNG Today