Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at the Gizo Police Station in the Western province have arrested and charged a 17-year-old male suspect for the alleged rape of a 13-year-old girl at Suanatali Village on Vella la Vella Island between January and December 2020.

An initial report says the suspect committed the alleged offence on the victim without her consent on two occasions between January and December 2020 at Suanatali Village.

Supervising Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province Inspector Wilken Miriki says, “The matter was reported to police at Gizo Police Station after a medical practitioner confirmed that the victim was pregnant.”

“The suspect was arrested on 16 January 2021 and has been placed at the Gizo Police Station Watch House.”

Inspector Miriki adds, “The suspect has been charged for two counts of rape contrary to section 139.1 (b) of the (Sexual offences) (Amendment) Act 2016. The suspect has been remanded at the Gizo Correctional Centre and will appear at the Gizo Magistrates’ Court on 17 February 2021.”

Source: RSIPF Media