Magistrate raises concerns over abuse of minors

SEXUAL abuse of minors are becoming prevalent in court and these offences seemed to be committed on a daily basis, Magistrate Cosmos Bidar says.
The Waigani Committal Court magistrate reiterated the comment on several occasions during court sessions.
“Sexual penetration and sexual abuse happen almost every day,” he said
“There seems to be a rise in these types of cases in the city (Port Moresby), where we have related cases every day.”
Bidar dealt with a hearing in which a man was alleged to have sexually abused a three-year-old girl.
Kelly Yalnen, 37, from Sinasina-Yongomugl in Chimbu was charged with one count of sexual penetration of the girl in the early hours of the morning at Sabama, Port Moresby on Dec 16, 2018.
It was alleged that the victim was fast asleep with her father in front of a canteen store and the accused was there also.
The accused was drunk. He saw the girl sleeping and he lifted her up and put her on his lap and sexually penetrated her using his fingers.
Someone saw him doing that and confronted him, took the child away and assaulted the accused.
The accused was arrested and charged.
Magistrate Bidar also made similar remarks during another case in which the accused, David Ume, 40, from Eastern Highlands, was committed to stand trial at the National Court for allegedly raping a girl, 11.