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PNG to demand Aussie PM extradite accused rapists

Xinhua, September 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Papua New Guinea (PNG) will ask Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to extradite three Australians who worked at the Manus Island immigration detention center so they can face rape allegations.

Abbott is due to arrive in the PNG capital of Port Moresby Wednesday night to attend the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit.

Australia has sublet the detention center to PNG to house intercepted refugees illegally headed for or arriving at - Australia by boat.

It is operated by private contractor Transfield Services, and the guards are employees from another company, Wilson Security.

The three Australian guards were stood down and quickly sent back to Australia in July after allegations they raped a local woman.

PNG authorities are in anger that they were let go without being questioned by local police.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill told reporters in Port Moresby they must be returned to face questioning over the rape allegations.

"We expect the rule of law to prevail," O'Neill said, quoted by the Australian Associated Press.

"They must face up to the allegations and be tried under the normal rule of law in Papua New Guinea."

Rape convictions carry the death sentence in PNG.

Transfield Services reportedly told the victim's family the trio would be returned to the island to face police questioning. That followed a relative of the alleged victim recently hijacking a bus and truck belonging to the center as a protest.

"That's our laws, we can't break our laws," O'Neill said.

He also expressed frustration with Australian expats usually evading PNG's justice system with quick evacuations when accused of crimes, citing the case of two Australian guards involved in a drink-driving car crash on Manus Island two weeks ago.

"How would you (Australians) feel if we treated Papua New Guineans the same way when they cause offenses in Australia?" he said.

"We have to respect each other's laws," he added.

Abbott and staff were en route to Port Moresby and unavailable to comment. Endi