Man, 24, charged with three counts of sexual penetration, incest denied bail

A MAN charged with three counts of sexual penetration and one count of incest has been denied bail at the Lae Committal Court after the court learnt that the victims were his nieces.
Committal Court magistrate Pious Tapil remanded the 24-year-old defendant from Biwait, Angoram in East Sepik, to Buimo jail and he would appear in the same court for mention on Dec 13.
“For all committal matters, everyone is still a suspect till proven guilty in court,” Magistrate Tapil told the defendant.
The accused appeared in court after allegedly committing the offences at New Block, Speedway, at Kamkumung in Lae on Sept 6 and 7 at the family home of the girls.
A police report stated that the victims, both under the age of 12, had been placed in the care of the defendant while their parents were away at work.
The court heard that the accused allegedly called the victims into his room, instructed them to undress before assaulting them.
Police alleged that both victims were told by the accused not to tell anyone about what had happened or he would kill them.
The court was told that on Sept 12, the victims’ elder sister happened to catch the defendant and one of the victims in the act and reported the matter to their grandmother who then reported the matter to the victim’s mother.
The defendant was arrested and charged by police and appeared in court on Wednesday.