By Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA
The office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has reinstated the case of aggravated defilement against IP Thomas Otim, the West Nile region Police Professional Standards Unit (PSU) boss.
This is after Patrick Omia, the Resident Chief State Attorney (RCSA) of Arua decided to close the case file on grounds that it contains insufficient evidence.
Omia’s action forced the family of the 21 months old baby who was allegedly defiled by Otim on Independence Day to petition the office of the DPP.
In a press release issued on November 4, 2023, the DPP has accordingly reinstated the charges of aggravated defilement against Otim.
“Having found the evidence sufficient to sustain the charge of Aggravated Defilement against the suspect, Thomas Otim, a police officer, the DPP sanctioned the charge and has been working hand in hand with the Director CID to ensure that the suspect is arrested and produced in court,” the statement issued by Jacquelyn Okui, the DPP Public Relations Officer read in part.
Okui assured the public that the DPP is also investigating the circumstances under which Omia closed the case file.
As soon as the file was closed, Otim was set free and later disappeared in thin air. To date, it is not yet clear whether he has been rearrested or not.
Josephine Angucia, the North Western region Police Spokesperson earlier said Otim was accused of aggravated defilement, an offense he allegedly committed in his house at Arua police barracks on Independence Day.
“It is true that Arua Central Business Division of police are investigating an allegation of aggravated defilement that occurred on October 9, 2023 at about midday at Arua police barracks in Arua city. According to the information we got, it is alleged that one police officer by the name of Otim Thomas called the victim to his room in the barracks and after some minutes, the victim went back to the mother crying that the suspect had done bad manners to her,” Angucia said in her earlier report.
The child is currently on a-month-long post-exposure prophylaxis (HIV PEP) which is a short course of HIV medicines taken very soon after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent the virus from taking hold in one’s body.
The toddler who is now in dilemma of taking PEP without being sick belongs to Dr. Charles Madrama, the West Nile region Police Surgeon and Rachael Nsiima who are neighbors to the suspect.
According to an earlier police report, a medical examination indicated that something actually happened to the girl’s private part and that there was a scratch inside the private part (vagina) of the girl.
