Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Munda Police Station in Western Province have arrested and charged a 39-year-old man on 30 April for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl at Lokuloku settlement in Munda on 29 April 2021.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “The victim and her sister were the last ones to go into their room after a family dinner.”
PPC Lenialu says, “As the victim was about to enter her room, the suspect grabbed the victim from the back with his right hand shutting her mouth and left hand holding her neck. The victim tried to shout and struggle to escape but could not do so as the suspect held on to her tightly.”
Chief Superintendent Lenialu says, “The suspect was under the influence of alcohol at that time of the incident and took her to a nearby area and had sex with her. The suspect is the victim’s cousin brother living in the same village.”
The defendant was interviewed and charged with one count of rape contrary to section 136F (1) (a) & (b) of the Penal Code Cap 26 as amended by the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act, 2016.
The defendant has been remanded at the Gizo Correctional Centre awaiting his appearance in court later as the investigation into the incident continues.
“I want to appeal to all parents to look after your young girls to avoid such sad incidences from happening in our communities. I further appeal to all men in our communities to respect our young girls. Such incident will affect them for the rest of their lives and also against the law,” says PPC Lenialu.
Source: RSIPF media release