Statutory rape is criminal offence

LAE committal court magistrate Pious Tapil told a 21-year-old man yesterday that statutory rape is a criminal offence even if there was consent by the minor.
Elijah Tobi, from Chimbu’s Gumini, who is charged with having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl in 2019, had mitigated that he had consented sex with his girlfriend.
Tapil said: “Having sexual intercourse with an underage girl is rape. It is a crime whether with or without consent.”
“Police have charged you with having sexual intercourse, not rape, with the girl (now 16). Even though there was consent between you two, it was against the law. Sexual offences against minors have become prevalent in communities and such cases were serious.”
Tapil then ordered Tobi to face trial at the National Court on April 1.
He also granted Tobi K1,000 bail after his guarantor appeared in court to assure that he would attend all his court hearings.
The court heard that on Aug 14, the girl was at a haus krai in Uni Block when she left her aunty and uncle to return home.
Tobi was by the roadside when he spotted the girl and asked for 50t but she told him that she did not have any money.
He then allegedly pulled the girl into his house and into his room and raped her.
The girl later returned home and told her mother about the sexual attack and she lodged a police report.