Manama: Kuwait’s Court of Appeals has upheld a death sentence for a traffic police officer for kidnapping, raping and attempting to murder a Filipina.
According to the case papers, the officer who was on duty stopped a taxi to check the identity papers of the passengers.
When he discovered that one of the two Filipinas was staying illegally in the country, he asked her to get out of the taxi and into the patrol car. He then told the taxi driver to drive away with the second passenger.
The officer drove the victim to a deserted location in the Mishref area and stopped the car.
He then undressed and asked her to do likewise, but she refused. He then took out a knife and threatened to kill her if she refused to have sex with him. However, she pleaded with him to take her to the police station or to drive her to her embassy to be deported, local daily Al Rai reported on Thursday.
Despite the pleas, the officer insisted on having sex with her and stabbed her in the neck before raping her.
As the victim fainted, the officer thought she was dead and he moved towards the patrol car to flee the scene. But, when he saw the victim move her hand to her neck, he realised she was alive and went back to her and stabbed her in the neck, back and chest.
He believed that she was dead and moved her behind a small sand mound.
However, the victim was only unconscious and when she came to and found herself in the deserted area, she drew strength to make her way to a road.
There she was spotted by a young driver who took her in his car and drove her to the hospital from where the police were alerted.
During the investigations, the victim was able to recognise the rapist who was confronted by the investigation team.
However, confident that his victim was dead and no witnesses were around, he denied any knowledge about the case and said that he had not arrested any Asian woman during his round of duty.
When the investigators told him that the victim had not died and that she was able to recognise him, he pretended that he had a lapse of insanity.
The investigators referred him to a psychiatrist and when it was proved he was sane and fully responsible for his words and deeds, he was referred to court and put on trial.
The lower court in June found him guilty and sentenced him to death.
The victim’s lawyer said that he was pleased with the verdict, but added that he would file for financial compensation.
The rapist can still take his case to the Cassation Court as a last resort.
