Papua New Guinea's prime minister says it's premature to speculate about whether three Australians accused of rape could face the death penalty.
The three, employed by Wilson Security as guards at the Australian-run immigration detention centre on Manus Island, were stood down and sent home to Australia following an alleged incident in mid-July.
Manus Island police and locals claim they were removed before a proper investigation was carried out.
PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill, who discussed the case with former prime minister Tony Abbott in Port Moresby last week, wants the trio returned to face justice.
Rape convictions can carry the death sentence in PNG.
The police investigation was ongoing and Australian authorities were cooperating on the matter, Mr O'Neill said.
"It's premature for me to say they will be facing the death penalty," he told AAP in Port Moresby.
"It depends on the evidence that is available."
The country's death penalty laws were under review, Mr O'Neil said.
His government was conscious of human rights issues but also wanted to send a strong message to the community about sexual and gender violence.
According to Human Rights Watch an estimated 70 per cent of PNG women experience rape or assault in their lifetime.
Detention centre operator Transfield Services reportedly told the Manus Island victim's family the three men would be returned to face police questioning, after a relative hijacked a bus and truck belonging to the facility.
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