Tambua case adjourned to April 4

The National Main Stories

GOROKA MP Aiye Tambua charged with sexual offences against members of his family over a period of time appeared in a Committal Court in Waigani yesterday.
Magistrate Paul Puri Nii read the charges to him and adjourned the matter to Apr 4, to allow police time to complete investigations.
Police alleged that Tambua, 45, of Goroka’s Massy village, Eastern Highlands, committed the sexual offences on the three victims (family members) on different occassions.
It was alleged that on Nov 13, 2022 at Walala Estate, Finance Compound, Gerehu Stage One, Port Moresby, National Capital District, Tambua sexually penetrated his wife, without her consent.
It was alleged that between Jan 01, 2012 and Dec 31, 2015, he engaged in persistent sexual abuse of someone who was 12 to 15 years old at that time.
It was also alleged that between Sept 01 and 31, 2016, he engaged in the act of sexual touching a girl who was then 16 years old.
He was also alleged to have between Feb 1 and Mar 31, 2017, compelled a family member to rub his private part with her buttocks.
All these incidents occurred at his Walala home on those different dates, the court was told. Then between Oct 1 and Dec 31, 2021, he was alleged to have touched the breast of a victim at his office in Parliament.
It was further alleged that between Mar 31 and April 30, 2022, at Wanbel Estate in Goroka, he was engaged in the sexual touching of a victim without her consent.
Tambua is facing 26 charges including:

  • ONE count of rape;
  • TWO counts of abuse of trust under Section 229E (1) of the Criminal Code and Sexual offences and Crimes Against Children’s Act;
  • THIRTEEN counts of sexual assault;
  • SEVEN counts of compel to touch;
  • ONE count of persistent sexual abuse; and,
  • TWO counts of sexual touching of a child under section 22 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code and Sexual offences and Crimes against Children’s Act.

Police alleged that the mother had a row with Tambua about what he did.
After the 2022 General Elections, Tambua’s wife expected him to address the issue but he kept making excuses and delaying it for five months.
The three family members reported the matter to the Boroko police station.
The reports were registered and led to Tambua’s arrest.
Meanwhile, Tambua was granted a K10,000 court bail on Monday at 9.30pm by Magistrate Nii pursuant to Section 6 of the Bail Act.
The conditions were that Tambua should not re-offend, attend court when his case is called and to seek the court’s permission if he intends to travel out of the National Capital District.
His two guarantors were ordered to pay a surety fee of K1, 000 each.