Arua, (UG): The Inspector of Police (IP) Thomas Otim attached to the Professional Standards Unit in the West Nile Region has been re-arrested on allegations of aggravated defilement of a 19-month-old minor.
The girl victim, a daughter of West Nile Regional Police Surgeon, Dr Charles Madrama, is said to have been defiled by IP Otim in an accident that occurred at Arua Central Police Barracks on the 9th of October, 2023.
The suspect was towards the end of last month released from Arua Central Police custody and set free of the allegations due to lack of evidence pinning on the alleged defilement of the minor.
However, while addressing the media on Monday, Police Spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga revealed that the police officer implicated in the defilement case has now been rearrested and charged to court, thanks to the intervention of the CID Director and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution who found incriminating evidence against him.
“The Directorate of CID, in coordination with the ODPP, caused the re-arrest, of IP Otim Thomas, an officer attached to the Professional Standards Unit in the North West Nile Region, after a thorough review of his casefile, found incriminating evidence, against him,” Mr Enanga said before journalists at Naguru police headquarters on Monday afternoon.
“He is now scheduled to appear before the Chief Magistrates Court, for the Aggravated Defilement of a 19-month-old, girl victim which allegedly occurred on 9th October 2023, at Arua Police Barracks,” the police spokesperson added.
Despite the file having been closed two weeks ago and put away on the legal guidance of the Arua District Resident State Attorney, Mr Enanga explained that the intervention of child rights defenders and the resilience of the victim’s parents was key to reawakening the investigations, hence leading to the rearrest of the officer.
“We want to thank the parents of the victim, parliament and other child rights defenders, for their intervention in this matter, which culminated into an open and transparent review of the matter,” he said, adding that as Police, all allegations of sexual abuse are taken as a priority, and more so when particular allegations relate to a police officer against a 19 month old, minor.
“The UPF holds its officers to a high standard, both on and off–duty, and does not tolerate criminal misconduct or unethical behaviour. Therefore, the officer was suspended from the force and charged to court, with Aggravated Defilement,” Mr Enanga concluded.
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