50-yr-old arrested for alleged rape of niece

Tulagi Police in Central Province have arrested and remanded a male person in his 50s for allegation of raping his 14-year-old niece at big Ngella in Central Province.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Central Province Superintendent David Soakai says the alleged suspect took the victim to spend the holidays with him and his family at Olevuga village, big Ngella when the incident happened.

The victim and the suspect are related through adoption. The suspect took his niece and promised her parents to assist them financially with school fees for this year (2023).

According to report received by police, the suspect allegedly raped the victim three times whilst the victim was under his care in November and December 2022.

Soakai said the victim then sought help from village elders who assisted in transporting her to Tulagi Police Station where she reported the incident.

The suspect has been charged for three counts of sexual intercourse with child under 15 years old contrary to section 139(1) of the Penal Code, Cap 26 as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.

He is currently remanded at Rove Correctional Service and will appear at Honiara Central Magistrates’ Court on 24^th January 2023.