Civil society activists in Yei River State have petitioned the public prosecution attorney and the police to speed up the case against a man accused of defiling and a one-year old baby.

Charles Hakim, 35, was caught red-handed last month by residents allegedly molesting the little girl near a disco hall.

He was later taken to the police station, charged and produced before a local court.

However, a judge adjourned the hearing for two weeks after the prosecutor said the baby had health complications.

The case is yet to be heard again.

The civil society group, Community Empowerment for Rehabilitation and Development, raised a concern to the police gender desk and the judicial actors about the delay.

“The judicial section must do something; this is something very serious we should not joke with,” said Khamis Benson Soro, human rights officer for the group.

The state public prosecution attorney, Sadick Awut Layila, could not comment on the matter.

According to reports from the police gender desk, more than 50 cases of rape were reported in the state last month.