A 31-YEAR-old man who allegedly raped two of his female relatives, including a disabled woman, died last week after being beaten by a family member in Manus, Papua New Guinea last week, the National reports.
Manus provincial police commander Alex N’Drasal said the suspect died after he was brought back to the police cell subsequent to checks by the hospital which cleared him.
“The suspect was brought to the hospital, he was checked and was cleared by hospital staff to be brought back to the cell, 10 minutes after he was brought in to the cell, he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead,” N’Drasal said.
He said the criminal investigation division was currently obtaining statements from witnesses and would arrest the dead man’s relative, a probationary constable with Manus police.
N’Drasal said the deceased had raped two of his female relatives and he had hidden in the jungles of central Manus before eventually slipping through unnoticed by agitated family members in his village by hopping on a public motor vehicle which took him to town.
He said the deceased tried to seek refuge with the family member who was a probationary constable in town but was beaten up and brought to the cell after he revealed what he did to the two women.
“When the deceased revealed to his cousin, the probationary constable, of what he had done, the cousin was angry and started beating him,” N’Drasal said.
He added that the police constable was ashamed of the incidents that had brought shame to their family.
N’Drasal said a post mortem examination and investigations would determine the cause of death of the suspected rapist.