Police officer transferred after sex work comment

A police commander in Tanzania's capital, Dodoma, has been removed from her post following controversial comments in which she linked an alleged gang rape victim to sex work. Earlier this month, a video appearing to show a young woman being assaulted went viral, prompting an outcry. On Sunday, the police commander in the capital, Dodoma, was quoted in a Tanzanian newspaper as saying the ‘woman in question appeared to be engaged in sex work’. BBC News reports that Tanzania's national police force apologised and said the commander had been transferred. ‘The police force would like to apologise to everyone who was ... offended by the statement circulating in the media while monitoring is being done to find its accuracy,’ said police spokesperson David Misime. Four suspects appeared in court last Monday and were charged with gang rape and engaging in unnatural acts. They pleaded not guilty and will remain in police custody.

Full BBC News report