Church deacon arrested, charged with rape of girl, 7

MANUS police have arrested and charged a Seventh Day Adventist Church deacon with allegedly raping a girl since she was seven.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu said George Avou Mwaki, 56, from Rei Village of Lou Island in Balopa, was arrested and charged after the girl’s mother found out about the sexual assaults.
He said Mwaki allegedly raped the girl, now 12, on several occasions between February and April 2014 until the mother lodged a police report.
Police investigations then discovered that Mwaki had allegedly started raping the girl when she was only seven years old.
Mwaki is now in police custody and is scheduled to appear before the Lorengau Committal Court tomorrow.
Yapu said the alleged rapes by a church elder was against church principles and it also tarnished the image of the church.
“Church elders or leaders are supposed to work closely with police to help address socio, law and order issues in communities,” he added.
He said church workers like pastors, deacons, priests and bishops should lead by example and practice what they preached.