Police arrest 16-year-old youth for alleged rape of 3-year-old girl in Guadalcanal Province

The Sexual Assault Team (SAT) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) have arrested and charged a 16-year-old youth for allegedly raping a 3-year-old girl at Lengarauna Village, Visale in North West Guadalcanal on 19 October 2018.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Crime and Intelligence Ian Vaevaso says, “The suspect was arrested and charged with one count of rape. The suspect was remanded and will appear in Honiara Magistrate Court on 9 November 2018.”

AC Vaevaso explains: “It has been alleged that the victim was sexually assaulted by the suspect who is her cousin brother at their home village in Lengarauna on 19 October 2018.”

“This is yet another sad and unacceptable alleged rape incident which has happened in one of our communities. To make it worse the victim is a very close relative of the perpetrator who is expected to protect her from such acts,” says AC Vaevaso.

Mr Vaevaso says, “The mother in this particular case must be commended for reporting this matter to police straight away even though she had to travel some distance. It helped police respond and also help to keep the Village safe. I encourage victims and parents to report such sexual assault incidents. RSIPF take such reports seriously as shown in this case.”

He adds: “According to our records this is the 12 alleged rape incident reported to the Police in the last four months from throughout the country. The whole country must condemn in the strongest term such inhumane acts which will affect such a baby girl for the rest of her life.”