Man jailed for sexually touching little girl, 5

By GIDEON KINDIWA
A JUDGE has sentenced a man to five years in jail for sexually touching a five-year-old girl, rejecting his excuse that he was too drunk to know what he was doing.
Justice Panuel Mogish told Manai Aita in the National Court that the court would protect young girls from abuse.
“You said you were drunk and did not know what you were doing. I don’t believe you. You surely knew what you were doing,” he said.
“This sentence will stop you and others from abusing young girls. It will assure young girls that this court will do everything within its powers to ensure a safe society for all.”
The offence took place on Oct 7, 2017, at Sabama in Port Moresby. The court heard that the girl and her grandmother were walking to their house when the grandmother stopped to buy betel nut. The girl continued walking ahead of her when she was called by Aita to go to him.
Aita was drunk and sitting beside the road. When the girl went to him, he grabbed her, put his hand underneath her dress and started touching her private parts.
A woman saw what was happening and yelled at Aita who fled. He was later apprehended by the girl’s relatives and taken to the Badili Police Station where he was charged.
Justice Mogish deducted one year and three months from the five years for the time Aita had spent in custody.