Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) arrested a 22-year-old male person for the alleged rape of a 69-year-old woman at Nusa Baruku Village on Gizo Island in the Western Province on 4 June 2019.
Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “It was about 4pm in the afternoon of 4 June 2019 that the suspect allegedly approached the victim to have sexual intercourse with her.”
PPC Lenialu explains, “The victim refused but the suspect allegedly tied the victim’s neck with a rope and allegedly held down her hands. The victim allegedly struggled to free herself and became unconscious because of the rope around her neck.”
“It is alleged that the suspect carried the victim out from her house to the nearby bush and sexually assaulted her. The suspect then allegedly escaped from the scene.”
Mr Lenialu says, “After regaining consciousness the victim went to the Village and informed the villagers about what the suspect did to her.”
The villagers transported the victim to Gizo Police Station and reported the matter.
The Solomon Islands National Council of Women (SINCW) has condemned the attack, saying it was a cowardly attack on a helpless elderly woman.
SINCW said that the rise in rape cases is alarming and calls on community leaders to do more to protect girls and woman.
“The perpetrators are people they trust, most of the time close relatives or friends, we need to do more to protect our girls and woman, community leaders need to stand up and speak up against rape,” SINCW said.
The suspect was charged for the offence of rape Contrary to Section 136F (1) (a) of the Penal Code (Sexual Offences) Act 2016.
Source: RSIPF