Azeri woman rape case: Lahore court grants three-day remand of female suspect

LAHORE: A Lahore court on Wednesday granted police a three-day physical remand of a woman suspect in a case involving the alleged gang rape of an Azerbaijani female in Lahore.

The woman suspect was produced before Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood at the Cantonment Courts under strict security, where the prosecution sought her physical custody for investigation.

The court subsequently allowed the three-day remand, directing that she remain in police custody from sunrise to sunset and in judicial custody in jail for rest.

The case was registered at Defence C Police Station on the complaint of the Azerbaijani woman, who has alleged that three men sexually assaulted her at a rented apartment in a private housing society near Raiwind.

The development came a day after the same court granted six-day physical remand to two male suspects in the case to allow police to conduct DNA tests and further investigation. Police had sought a 14-day remand of the two suspects but the magistrate approved six days.

Arguments over woman suspect’s physical remand

During Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecutor told the court that it was the woman’s first physical remand and sought her custody for investigation.

The prosecution argued that, being a woman, she could remain in jail during the physical-remand period.

The suspect’s counsel opposed the request, arguing that her relationship with the complainant was limited to friendship. He contended that physical remand of a woman could not be sought except in cases involving offences such as murder or robbery.

The defence lawyer also argued that there was nothing to be recovered from the suspect and, therefore, police custody was not required.

The magistrate asked the suspect whether she wanted to undergo a medical examination. She replied that she did not.

The court subsequently granted the three-day physical remand and issued directions regarding the manner in which she would be kept in custody.

Two male suspects already on physical remand

On Tuesday, Judicial Magistrate Azhar Mahmood had granted police six-day physical remand of two male suspects after investigators sought custody for DNA testing, recovery of evidence and further interrogation.

Police have also identified a third male suspect and are conducting raids to arrest him, according to Lahore DIG Investigation Zeeshan Raza.

Police had earlier requested federal authorities to place the names of the three prime suspects on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), saying they had allegedly left Lahore after the incident.

Police have also taken into custody the vehicle allegedly used in the incident and questioned other people in connection with the investigation.

Second female suspect gets pre-arrest bail

A second woman named in connection with the case was granted interim pre-arrest bail by an additional sessions court on Tuesday.

The court barred police from arresting her until October 5 and directed her to join the investigation. Her lawyer told the court that she wanted to cooperate with investigators and establish her innocence.

This means police are currently investigating the alleged role of at least two women in addition to the male suspects.

Azerbaijani woman records statement

The complainant, an Azerbaijani national, recorded her statement before Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Sagheer under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on Monday. She was brought to the court under tight security.

According to her statement, she arrived in Islamabad from Istanbul on September 13 and subsequently travelled to Faisalabad, where she stayed for five days. She then came to Lahore, intending to visit Skardu, but decided against travelling there alone.

She told the magistrate that she contacted two women, M* and another woman, after deciding that she needed company.

According to her account, she met M* at a café in Lahore at around 11pm. M* allegedly told her that the other woman was waiting for them, after which they went to meet her.

The woman stated that they had food at around 2am when two men arrived in a vehicle and joined them. She alleged that one of the women received between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000 from one of the men and offered the money to her, but she declined.

According to the statement, one of the men subsequently took her to another room, where three men were present. When she asked about the two women accompanying her, she was allegedly told that they had left.

She said she asked to leave but was told that she could not because her friends had taken money from the men. She alleged that she offered to pay Rs30,000 herself in order to leave, but was told that more money had been taken.

The complainant further alleged that one of the men threatened her and attempted to blackmail her. She said she was also threatened with a call to police.

According to her statement, the men later offered her alcohol and told her that she could leave after drinking with them. She alleged that after she consumed the alcohol, the men told her to sleep there until the effects wore off, after which three men sexually assaulted her.

She further alleged that she was subsequently taken away in a vehicle and that the men took her belongings, including Rs200,000 in cash and an iPhone.

According to her account, the men told her that her belongings would be returned if she did not report the incident to police. She alleged that she was later pushed out of the vehicle and left without her belongings, after which she sought help from people nearby and contacted police.

The complainant’s allegations were recorded as her statement before the magistrate and remain subject to investigation and judicial proceedings. The suspects have not been convicted of any offence and are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Medical report and investigation

Police have said the medical examination of the Azerbaijani woman found injuries consistent with sexual assault, while DNA samples were also collected.

The police investigation is now focused on obtaining forensic evidence, including DNA samples from the arrested suspects, tracing the remaining suspect and determining the alleged role of the women named in the case.

Police have also yet to recover the Azerbaijani woman’s two mobile phones, according to reports.

The Defence C police registered the case after the woman approached authorities following the alleged incident. The investigation is continuing, while the allegations against the suspects remain unproven in court.