19-year-old arrested for sexual offence in Western Province

A 19-year-old male have been arrested by police officers in Gizo, Western Province on allegation of the rape of a six-year-old girl on Ranogga Island in January 2019.

Provincial Police Commander Western Province, Chief Superintendent, Mathias Lenialu says, “It is alleged that on an unknown date between 1 to 31 January 2019, the victim, who is a six-year-old girl, was out with her aunty to pick ngali nuts at a nearby bush. The defendant followed them to carry their bag of nuts.”

PPC Lenialu adds: “After they got home, the defendant told the victim to follow him to the sea side beneath an alite tree and ordered her to take off her clothes. The victim refused and he threatened her. And there he sexually assaulted the victim.”

PPC Lenialu explains, “Days later, the victim’s mother noticed a bad smell coming from the body of the victim. She checked the victim’s private part and saw pus coming out from her private part. She reported the matter to a village elder and she took her daughter to be checked a nearby clinic. She was referred to police in Gizo.”

The matter was reported to police in Gizo and on 5 March 2019, the defendant was arrested and charged for sexual intercourse with a child under 15 years of age contrary to Section 139 (1) (b) of the Penal Code (cap.26) as amended by the Penal Code, Amended Sexual Offences Act 2016.

The defendant was taken to court where and was remanded by the Gizo Magistrates Court and will reappear in Court on 20 March 2019.

“The investigation into this matter continues and I would like to call on witnesses to come forward and assist the police. I would like to urge our people to respect our women and girls. Police strongly condemns this kind of offence and will do all it can to make sure those responsible face justice,” says PPC Lenialu.