Rape of minors a concern

A SENIOR magistrate says rape, particularly of minors, should be a concern to society.
Magistrate Cosmas Bidar voiced his concern yesterday at the Waigani Committal Court over the many cases of sexual penetration brought before the court.
Bidar, pictured, who dealt with at least 10 such cases recently, said: “These types of cases are always constant in the Waigani Committal Court.”
He raised his concern after Roy Agaraveno, from Kainantu, Eastern Highlands, was accused of sexually penetrating an eight-year-old girl at Bush Wara settlement in Port Moresby, between Jan 1 and May 14 last year.
The case was first brought to court on Dec 3 after the alleged offence was committed by Agaraveno.
Bidar upheld submissions by prosecutor Sergeant John Wamuru to adjourned for a month.
Wamuru also submitted that there were concerns raised by the victim’s father that the child was undergoing surgery in Kundiawa.
It was alleged that the victim lived close to Agaraveno.
Agaraveno’s house was behind a trade store he owned to where he allegedly lured the girl with sweets, biscuits, and money.
Police alleged that when the victim went into his house Agaraveno “penetrated her with his finger and she bled”. Agaraveno also sexually penetrated the victim.
It was also alleged that the practice went on for some time.
In another case, a man, 42, from Southern Highlands, was accused of raping his daughter, 14.
The alleged offence took place between August and October last year when the man threatened his wife and daughter and raped his daughter several times. The man threatened his wife and daughter and told them not to do anything. He sexually penetrated his daughter in the presence of his wife.
On Sept, the accused allegedly did a similar thing and sexually penetrated the victim twice on separate occasions. The victim and her mother did not report it to anyone because they were afraid that he would kill them.
The matter came to light on Oct 1 when the accused hit the victim with a power cable after she refused him sex. The victim ran away to her grandmother and reported everything. It was reported to police and the man was arrested and charged with sexual abuse and incest.
Bidar adjourned the case.
In a third case, a man was accused of sexually touching a child.
Bidar told Alex Weura, from Kubalia, in East Sepik, that on Christmas Eve at a place called new block at Bomana at around 8pm, he was alleged to have sexually touched a girl’s private part. The case was adjourned to March 7.