Police accuse doctors of frustrating rape victims

Jul 06, 2009

Doctors are frustrating efforts to curb defilement and rape cases in the Lango sub-region, the Police have said. Speaking during a workshop for senior Police officers and civil society organisations from the districts in the sub-region, Apac criminal inve

By Patrick Opio

Doctors are frustrating efforts to curb defilement and rape cases in the Lango sub-region, the Police have said. Speaking during a workshop for senior Police officers and civil society organisations from the districts in the sub-region, Apac criminal investigations chief Matthew Etuu accused medical workers of demanding for sh80,000 to 100,000 to examine the victims.

“The parents sometimes cannot raise money for the examination. That means the case is weakened by lack of a medical report to substantiate allegations ” Etuu explained.

He stated that defilement and rape victims should be checked free-of-charge at government facilities. “Examination of persons alleged to have been defiled or raped must be the normal duty of the doctors,” he said.

Etuu noted that most parents resorted to out-of- court settlements due to frustration. TAAC coordinator Tom Opwonya said there were reports of case-files disappearing in Police Stations and at the courts.

HURINET project coordinator Joyce Apio said the coalition was promoting human rights by strengthening the capacity of member organisations to carry out collective advocacy.

Apio pointed out that there were increasing reports of doctoring of documents and evidence by the Police and some officials at the directorate of public prosecutions to exonerate some suspects.

She noted that violation of human rights by the Police would undermine public order and security.

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