BY ROMINAH FAKA
The matter of a man accused of persistent abuse of his daughter has been committed to the High Court.
The ruling was delivered yesterday, where court finds that there was sufficient evidence from the witness statements, medical report, record of interview and birth certificate of the complainant.
Court made directions for the matter to be called at High Court on January 31 for first mention.
After committing the accused, court delivered the ruling of bail application filed by accused and his lawyer.
In delivering bail application ruling, court granted the bail application however, made directions for the accused to pay a cash bail of $500 before release from the prison.
The accused was charged with persistent abuse of child and he pleaded not guilty.
It was alleged on October 15, 2021 the complainant was sleeping when the accused came and laid beside her, touching her body.
The victim woke up and shouted, and the accused apologised and told her not to tell anyone, promising the complainant that he would not do it again.
The next day on October 16, 2021 the accused reportedly assaulted the victim which he removed her shirt leaving her topless.
The defendant, with a knife in his hand threatened the complainant not to tell anyone about what had happened the previous day and after told the complainant to put on a shirt.
The facts further stated, later that day when the victim was sleeping, the accused went over and cradled her in his arms and committed the act of searching for a lice on her head.
The victim woke and froze, reportedly too scared to do anything, then the defendant allegedly began touching her body.
The defendant told the victim to allow him to touch her body, promising her that he would buy her a smartphone.
The victim did not accept what the defendant was doing to her that she allegedly stood up crying and went outside of the house.
The victim did not report anything to anybody.
In July this year, the accused allegedly assaulted the victim again.
Following this, the complainant decided to report her father (accused) so she went and reported to her aunt. Her aunt then went and reported the matter to police.
Herrick Lautalo appears for Public Prosecution Office appear for the crown and PSO for the accused.
