45-yr-old man arrested for alleged rape 7-year-old girl

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) at Tulagi in Central Province charged and remanded a 45-year-old male suspect for the allegation of rape of a 7-year-old girl on 21 December 2022.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province, Superintendent David Soakai said investigation into the rape incident has been completed and the accused was charged and remand for seven counts of sexual offense and now at Rove Correctional Facility.

Soakai said during the course of the investigation the victim disclosed more information that led the accused to seven counts of sexual offenses.

He confirmed that police have laid five counts of rape of a girl under 15 Contrary to Section 139 (1) and two counts of Indecent Assault Contrary to Section138 of the Penal Code (amendment) Sexual Offences Act 2016.

Soakai said the accused has now been remanded at the Correctional Service of Solomon Islands (CSSI) for 14 days as of 21 December 2022 and will appear for his first mention in the Honiara Central Magistrates’ Court on 4 January 2023.

The rape incident was said to happen on the 20 November 2022.

Police condemns the alleged incident in the strongest terms saying it is inhuman and it is a very serious crime.

Rape bears a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Members of the community are encouraged to report such incidents as early as possible as the law will not tolerate such people with immoral intentions.

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RSIPF Media Unit