Rape suspects to be charged with posing as CID officials Gulf Times Rape charges are unlikely to be filed against the five suspects who were alleged to have gang-raped an absconding Filipina housemaid in Doha recently, it is learnt. On the other hand they will be charged with impersonating CID officials. A source told Gulf Times that rape charges could not be applied as the housemaid reported the incident to Qatari authorities only two weeks after it happened. The Philippine embassy had confirmed that the suspects entered the victim’s accommodation on August 10, claiming to be CID officials. “To qualify for a rape case, it should have been reported immediately, not more than a week in order to conduct the medico legal tests,” the source added. As the prime witness, the victim will stay in the country and is expected to testify against the five suspects. The embassy disclosed that she will be endorsed first to the Qatar Foundation for Combating Human Trafficking this week for counselling. Instead of being repatriated as a runaway housemaid, the source also said that the victim will be allowed to stay in Qatar for being the main witness in the case. Different Filipino groups in Qatar have earlier condemned the incident describing it as an “inhumane act”. They stressed that “criminals responsible for this should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law”. The five, all reported to be Indian nationals, were arrested “following a joint operation by the Criminal Investigation Department of Qatar and the Interpol”, according to the Philippine news website, GMA. The Philippine embassy has advised Filipinos to ensure proper identity of people before letting them into their accommodation.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 06:42:15 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015