Behind bars: Rape suspect arrested from court premises

Police are still awaiting results of the DNA tests of the victims and the suspect

ISLAMABAD: A rape suspect was arrested from the court premises on Tuesday after a sessions court rejected his pre-arrest bail plea.

Sabzi Mandi police had booked Raja Ijaz Mehmood and an unidentified person for allegedly raping a 33-year-old woman on May 16.

Mehmood had told the woman* that he would help her get a job at the airport and told her to bring him a copy of her CV. The victim, who hails from Rawalpindi, said that she went to Mehmood’s house in I-10 on May 16 where he raped her with the help of another man.

The victim stated in her complaint to the police that the suspects tortured her, tore her clothes apart and also warned her against reporting to the police.

Victim’s family had told The Express Tribune that the police delayed registration of an FIR when the victim complained to them and made no attempt to arrest him even after the case was registered.

A few days later, the suspect obtained interim bail from the court of Additional Sessions Judge (West) Pervaizul Qadir Memon.

The court, however, rejected his bail plea after hearing arguments from both the parties on Tuesday, following which the suspect was arrested from the court premises.

SI Muhammad Bashir, investigation officer for the case, said the police were still awaiting results of the DNA tests of the victims and the suspect.

*VICTIM’S NAME WITHHELD TO PROTECT IDENTITY

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2016.