Caught red-handed – The National

**The 20-year-old woman and the two men being interviewed by immigration and police officers. – Nationalpics by KENNEDY BANI**

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A 15-YEAR-OLD girl, found in a guesthouse during a spot check by immigration and police officers yesterday, said she was sold, without her knowledge, by her cousin sister for K100 to two men for sex.
Officers of the Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) and police happened to arrive at the guesthouse for a spot check just when the two men were trying to find a room for them and the girl.
The guesthouse at 5-Mile in Port Moresby was next on the officers’ list as they crack down on illegal activities by businessmen and foreigners who have become naturalised citizens.
They found the girl among around 20 men and women inside.
They realised that the business was providing other services than just accommodation.
The girl when questioned by the officials broke down, saying she was forced to follow the two men by her cousin sister.
“My cousin asked my mother for me to spend a night with her.
“My mother allowed me to spend a night,” she said.
“But (yesterday morning), my cousin said she wanted us to go to the second-hand (shop).
“She took me out of the house at 4-Mile and took me to Gordon.
“We met a guy from Popondetta who my cousin said was a friend of hers, and a man from Southern Highlands.
“My cousin told me to keep her friends company while she went to look for betel nut.

**The 15-year-old girl after she was rescued by immigration and police officers who were conducting “spot checks” at a guest house in 5-mile Port Moresby, yesterday.**

“However, she didn’t return.
“And with no bus fare, I was forced to follow the two men.
“They both told me they had paid some money to my cousin.”
The officers found out that the cousin had sold her to the two men for K100, for an hour of sex.
The two men, released with others in the guesthouse, were tracked down at Vision City, where officers found them with the cousin sister.
They had used the girl to find out where the three were after they had left the guesthouse.
The three were surprised when they were surrounded by ICA and police officers.
They were taken to the ICA office in Waigani where they were interviewed.
The girl’s 20-year-old cousin admitted to the officers that the man from Popondetta was her brother-in-law.
Last night, the three were detained at the 6-Mile police station for further interrogation today.
Police plan to charge the two men with “obtaining the services of child prostitution”.
The 20-year-old cousin will likely face a charge of “officering, facilitating and receiving benefits from child prostitution”.
It is understood that the girl was taken back to her relatives.
ICA officers and police began their spot checks last weekend arresting people especially foreigners they believe have been involved in illegal activities.
Some are also being investigated for breaching their visa conditions.