Sex-for-sale case hit snag

THE sex-for-sale expose in a logging camp in East Sepik last week has taken another twist with eight women nabbed claiming they were married to the expatriates.
Police have released them, telling the women to return within a week with their marriage certificates to certify their marriages to the Kaup Logging expatriates.
Provincial Police Commander Insp Charles Parinjo told The National last week that the women, all aged below 20, admitted they were being paid between K200 and K800 per month when they were caught in compromising positions with their companions in a house.
However, the women, excluding the female government officer, who was sent back to Port Moresby, told police investigators over the weekend that they were not there to provide sexual pleasures for money.
They surprised police by claiming that they were wives of the expatriates.
“Investigators had to release them back to the logging camp. If they fail to return with their marriage certificates, we will proceed with the next course of action, which I assure you will be severe,” Insp Parinjo said.
He said from experience with logging activities in Hawain and other areas in the province, there were no permanent marriages between local women and foreigners who leave when their contracts expire.
These marriages only result in the poor young mothers striving daily to raise their “fatherless” children.
“These foreigners are smart at this game but I will not rest this time until they learn to respect our children and women folk,” Insp Parinjo said.
Relevant Government authorities including Momase police commander Giosi Labi and the logging company head office had been notified by the province’s police chief who is pressing for them to deal with these expatriates diplomatically.