Man charged with sexual abuse of granddaughters

By SYLVESTER WEMURU
A 77-YEAR-OLD man in Manus has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing his two granddaughters, police say.
Manus police commander Chief Insp David Yapu said the alleged abuse started in 2017 when the victims were eight years old.
The matter was reported to police by the girls’ parents after one of the girls started feeling pain in her private parts and told them what had happened.
Chief Insp Yapu said according to statements from the victims, they had been abused by their grandfather who touched their private parts and even tried to sexually penetrate them after giving them money and sweets.
“The matter came to light when one of the victims developed pain in her private parts and reported the matter to her parents,” he said.
He said the suspect was arrested and charged with persistent sexual abuse and remanded at Lorengau Police Station.
He will appear in Lorengau District Court on Monday.
Chief Insp Yapu also appealed to the parents of girls to take proper care of them.
Meanwhile, he said two escapees had been recaptured from a breakout from the police cell last month.
Chief Insp Yapu said the two men were part of a group of 12 suspects who escaped after cutting a bar with a hacksaw blade.
Both men were charged them with escaping from lawful custody.
In other news, police arrested two suspects from East and West Sepik for being in possession of large quantities of marijuana and live ammunition in Lorengau town.
He said the pair had travelled from Madang to Manus.
They were charged with being possession of a dangerous drug and being in possession of live ammunition.
They will appear in court on Monday.