24 Jan 2017

Asylum seeker in PNG faces rape charge

6:39 am on 24 January 2017

Police in Manus Province in Papua New Guinea have arrested and charged an asylum seeker for rape of a female secondary school student.

The acting provincial police commander senior inspector David Yapu said the suspect was 31-year old Rajeev Rajendran from Sri Lanka, who resides at the Manus Regional processing centre at Lombrum but has not been granted refugee status.

The Sri Lankan was arrested at the weekend and charged for the incident which took place last Tuesday.

The 19-year old woman was rushed to Lorengau General hospital with an injury.

The police chief said he had warned refugees and asylum seekers at the regional processing centre several times to respect the laws of PNG.

The accused was expected to appear in Lorengau District court on Monday.