Police officer held for defiling 14-year-old girl

The police in Gulu District are holding one of their own officers for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 14- year-old primary school girl.

The special police constable attached to Palaro Police Post in Palaro Sub-county, some 30 kilometres out of Gulu Town, was arrested at the weekend after concerned locals reported the matter to police.

According to police reports, the girl reportedly dropped out of school from Palabek Kal Sub-county in Lamwo District in May last year and went to stay in Palaro Sub-county.

It’s reported that the girl got stranded while in Palaro Sub-county and was taken to Palaro Police Post by good Samaritans for help to trace where her relatives were.

However, while at the police post, Sgt Jasper Opene, the officer-in -charge of the police post, handed the minor to the suspect to take care of her from his home while they trace for her relatives.

It’s alleged that the suspect while taking care of the girl at his home in Laliya Parish, Bungatira Sub-county had sexual intercourse several times with the minor and made her pregnant.

Information Daily Monitor received indicated that the suspect, after realising the girl was pregnant, with the help of a nurse took the her to a medical facility in Gulu Town where an abortion was conducted.

The Aswa River Region police spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema, confirmed the arrest of the suspect adding that he is being detained at Gulu Central Police Station pending investigation.

Mr Okema said the trio will be investigated for the roles they played in making the girl to be abused and conducting abortion.

Mr David Ngole, the Palaro LC3 chairperson, told Daily Monitor in an interview that the act is shameful especially by the police who should instead be sensitising locals on keeping law and order.

He also faulted the parents of the minor for leaving her to move alone from their home at such a tender age.
“We advise parents to be watchful of their children, what happened might have been avoided if she had not been left on her own.

We are, however, demanding that the law takes its full course,” Mr Ngole said.

CHARGES
Mr Okema said the suspect has been charged with aggravated defilement. He said the police have also arrested the former officer-in-charge of Palaro police post, a doctor identified as Dr Innocent Oling Loum and the nurse, who aided the abortion.