Man arrested for allegation of sexual assault on 17-year-old

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Taro Police have arrested a 53-year-old male suspect for an indecent act on a 17-year-old female victim at a village in East Choiseul recently.

It was alleged that the suspect asked the victim to remove her clothes several times but she refused. Despite the refusal from the victim, the suspect insisted and removed her clothes.

Later, the suspect continued to please himself by touching the victim’s breast, belly and her back repeatedly.  The suspect then told the victim to sit on his leg while he continued to do the indecent act.

The incident happened when the victim left her house and went to toilet nearby, next to a stream. The suspect who was observing the victim followed her from a distance.

When the victim was out of sight from her family, the suspect approached her and had a conversation with her. A relative of the girl who was in the area saw what had happened and yelled at the suspect. The suspect was caught but escaped for his safety. The girl later returned home and informed her family about the incident.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Choiseul Province, Superintendent Berry Pogesopa said the matter was reported to Taro Police and currently an investigation is ongoing.

He confirmed that the suspect was formerly charged for indecent act on a child under 18 years old in contrary to section 140 (2) of the Penal Code Sexual Offence Amendment Act 2016. He was bailed to appear before Taro Magistrates’ Court on 07 October 2024

Pogesopa said parents of young girls need to be more cautious about their daughters.

“Don’t allow your daughters to be alone in very isolate places,” he added.

 “There are people with dirty mind in our communities who look for opportunities to ruin our daughters with bad intentions,”  he said.

If you have any information about the incident you can call Taro police on phone 63100 or 63199.

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• RSIPF Media Unit