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	Catholic Priest Defiles Girl, Remanded By Chris Ocowun Sunday Vision January 23, 2010 http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=128&newsId=707882 GULU Grade One Magistrate’s court on Friday charged a Catholic priest, the Rev. Fr. Anthony Bosco Mawa, with aggravated defilement and remanded him at Gulu Central Prison. Rev. Fr. Mawa who was arrested by Gulu Police for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 16-year-old girl, was charged and remanded by Gulu Grade One Magistrate Joan Achiro. Prosecution alleged that Mawa, 41, an Acholi priest, between the months of April and November 2009 at plot 4/2 on Awich Road, Pece Division defiled a girl below 18 years old who was under his guardian contrary to section 129 (3) and 4 of the penal code Act of 2007. The state prosecutor, Sam Oola, told court that inquiry into the matter was ongoing. “Have you heard and understood what has been read to you. This court lacks the jurisdiction to take your plea,” Achiro said as the priest hurried to deny the charges. She advised Mawa to apply for bail before the High Court. Achiro then remanded the priest to Gulu Central Prison until August. There have been reports that the families of the complainant and accused tried to negotiate and settle the defilement out of court. Macmillan Okello, who was arrested for helping to carry out the abortion, was released on police bond. Charles Arop Atube, the father of the girl, told Journalists at Gulu Police Station on Sunday that “for two years this priest who is a friend to my sister has been defiling my daughter”. On the 8th of this month my daughter told me that together with the priest they went and aborted a two-month feotus in one of the clinics in Pece Division. Up to now my daughter is still bleeding as a result of that abortion,” The priest promised to take the girl to Nairobi if she didn’t tell anyone.
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