Police slammed for placing wrong charge

A MAGISTRATE says that she does not expect police officers specialised in sexual offences to place wrong charges on offenders.
Magistrate Laura Kuvi, presiding over a matter at the Boroko District Court yesterday, had to allow police to withdraw an initial charge of unlawful assault in a case that stemmed from allegations that were sexual in nature.
Kuvi said such mistakes were least expected from officers at the Family Sexual Violence unit.
She said the allegation was of an indictable offence and it involved a minor who was sexually assaulted by her uncle.
The accused in the matter was a 35-year-old from Hamuhamu village, Malalaua in Gulf.
He was wrongfully charged with unlawful assault.
Yesterday police prosecutor Constable Bernard Kilei in an application asked the court to withdraw the unlawful assault charge against the man.
The man was in court when police moved their application.
The court granted the application and the man was discharged of the unlawful assault charge but was still held in custody to be charged for sexual touching.
Police allege that the man had sexually touched the private parts of his 12-year old niece at their home between 4 and 5am on Feb 28.