The trial of two men charged with raping a 17-year-old girl in Abyei Administrative Area has been postponed to Monday next week.
The suspects aged 18 and 20 were taken to court in Abyei town on Tuesday, but the hearing was adjourned because the girl and her family were absent, according to police.
The incidents happened on 13th and 15th of December last year. The suspects were arrested in early January 2021 but were released on bail.
This brings the number of rape cases reported to police in Abyei in 2020 to 13. In November, police revealed that 19 gender-based violence cases including 12 rape-all committed against women and girls were registered in 2020.
According to South Sudan Penal Code, having sex with someone below 18 years leads to 10-year imprisonment.
In December, 2020, a special court to try gender-based violence cases was inaugurated in South Sudan’s capital, Juba.