Man, 53, faces sex trial

 THE Waigani Committal Court has committed a 53-year-old man to face trial for allegedly touching a nine-year-old girl’s private parts in a Port Moresby house.

Magistrate Mekeo Gauli committed the man from Abau in Central yesterday on the grounds that there was sufficient evidence against him to face a trial. The incident happened on the night of March 20 at the victim’s family home when the man was sleeping in the living room with the victim and other relatives.

The man allegedly put his hand into the victim’s trousers and felt her.

Gauli said the court had relied on the evidence of the police prosecution, the complainant (girl’s mother) and the medical reports and a picture of the house taken by police.

Gauli said the girl, straight after being touched, opened her eyes and saw the man who was awake. 

The medical evidence showed that the victim sustained bruises on her private parts. When the court asked the defendant to say something if he so wished to, he said he did not touch the victim for sexual purposes.

The man said: “The girl while sleeping moved to my side so I pushed her away.

“I tried to explain that to her mother when she complained that morning but could not.”

Gauli said: “The court finds that there is sufficient prima face case against the defendant to warrant the committal of his case for trial in the National Court.”

The case will be called on Sept 14.