Supporters intimidate journos

SUPPORTERS of Goroka MP Aiye Tambua, charged with sexual offences of his family members, threatened journalists covering the case not to take pictures outside the Waigani District Court yesterday.
Tambua’s supporters issued verbal threats and intimidated journalists that their cameras would be smashed if they took pictures and videos of the MP after the hearing of his case.
Tambua was escorted by his supporters, who obstructed media personnel from taking videos and pictures of him.
Tambua’s case was heard yesterday in Waigani before Committal Court Magistrate Paul Puri Nii and was adjourned for two months to give time for the victims to provide their statements to police.
Police Prosecutor Sgt Christian Iga sought an adjournment of two months to give more time for victims to fly in from Australia to give evidence which Magistrate Nii said was for the sake of justice and fairness.
He granted the adjournment.
Tambua’s lawyer Edward Sasingian told the court that this should be the last adjournment as there were too many delays by the prosecution.
The case returns on July 9.
Police alleged that Tambua, 45, of Goroka’s Massy village, Eastern Highlands, committed the sexual offences against three victims (family members) on different occasions. It was alleged that on Nov 13, 2022 at Walala Estate, Finance Compound, Gerehu Stage One, Port Moresby, Tambua sexually penetrated his wife without her consent.
It was alleged that between Jan 1, 2012 and Dec 31, 2015, he engaged in persistent sexual abuse of a child who was 12 to 15 years old at the time.
It was also alleged that between Sept 1 and 31, 2016, he did engage in the act of sexual touching of a child, then 16 years old.
He was also alleged to have between Feb 1 and March 31, 2017, compelled a victim to touch his private part with her buttocks.
All these incidents occurred at his Walala home on different dates.
Then between Oct 1 and Dec 31, 2021, he was alleged to have touched the breast of a victim at his parliament office.
It was further alleged that between March 31 and April 30, 2022, at Wanbel Estate in Goroka, he was engaged in sexual touching of a victim without her consent.
Tambua has been slapped with 26 charges including: one count of rape, two counts of abuse of trust and sexual offences and crimes against children, 13 counts of sexual assault, seven counts of compelled to touch, one count of persistent sexual abuse and two counts of sexual touching of a child.
It was also stated in the police statement of facts that the victim’s mother had an argument with Tambua about what he did to them (daughters).
The argument came about after what Tambua did to a victim when they travelled to Goroka in May 2022.
After General Elections 2022, Tambua’s wife expected him to address the issue but he kept making excuses and delaying it for five months.
The three victims were aggrieved about the sexual abuse and reported the matter to Boroko Police Station and three crime reports were registered, which led to his arrest.