Man in court for touching girls

AN elderly man appeared in the Waigani Committal Court in Port Moresby charged with sexually touching two girls under 10 years old in a National Capital District suburb last month.
Rex Bobby Biri, in his mid-50s, originally from Awanda village in Okapa district, Eastern Highlands, appeared from custody before Magistrate Mekeo Gauli on Friday. It was alleged that the accused was residing with his older brother at Tokarara when he committed the alleged offence.
The court heard that on November 14 and 15 the two victims, eight and five, his close relatives, went to sleep at his house when the alleged incident happened.
It was alleged that at around 8pm the victims, sleeping outside the house, were taken into the house by the accused and into his room.
The children’s grandfather told the accused to bring them out, but he told him that since they were already sleeping, he would leave them inside his room.
The court heard that the accused later went into the room and sexually abused the girls.
The elder victim woke up and after realising what had happened, lied to the accused that she wanted to use the toilet and went into the living room.
She cried to her grandfather but did not tell him what had happened.
She later told her parents, who reported the matter to police and the accused was arrested and charged.
The case continues on Jan 30.