Man faces sexual abuse charge

By ROSELYN ELLISON
A MAN from Iwai Village in East Pomio, East New Britain (ENB) was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a 20-year-old woman.
According to a report given to The National by Acting provincial police commander Snr Insp Gabriel Bandy, the accused had allegedly committed the offence on two occasions last year while being employed by the ENB Development Corporation at the Numasawa Plantation in the North Baining LLG area.
Bandy said the accused was charged with persistent sexual abuse and was currently in police custody.
He said man’s date to appear in court would be set after the legal year opened on Tuesday.
Bandy said the offence was allegedly committed between last April and May at Numasawa Planation where the accused threatened raped the woman.
“The accused continued to commit the offence until he got the victim pregnant,” Bandy said.
He said plantation workers reported the matter to the ENBDC management in Kokopo and later it was reported to police.
“The police task force team from Kokopo went to Numasawa Plantation on Jan 13 and arrested the accused and served him with his termination letter,” Bandy said.
The police report said the 21-year-old victim was abused when she went with her mother.
Bandy said the victim was nine months pregnant and would give birth anytime next week.
“Such offences committed are becoming very common in our societies.
“Men now don’t respect even their own female relatives.
“My advice to mothers is to think carefully before you make any decision.”
He added that such cases in the province were on the rise and police would not hesitate to investigate, arrest and charge those who committed the offence.
“I am appealing to the people of East New Britain to come out and report such cases which include incest or sexual abuse as there are many unreported cases because the victims are scared to report the matter,” Bandy said.
He urged the victims to come out and report these matters to the police so those involved could be charged and taken to court.