BY ROMINAH FAKA

High court has sentenced a man to nine years, two months prison time for sexual intercourse with an underage girl.

The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim was charged with one count of sexual intercourse with a child under 15 contrary to section 139 (1) of the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offence Act 2016).

The victim was 10 years old when the incident occurred.

The sentence was delivered Thursday last week at the Auki Court circuit.
The defendant was on bail awaiting his trial in July 2022. He failed to turn up and a warrant of arrest was issued for him.

He evaded police until he was caught in Makira on March 22 this year.

He was transferred to Honiara and then moved to Auki where he appeared before court and entered a guilty plea for the offence during the Auki High Cour circuit last week.

The incident occurred on August 6, 2018 in West Kwara’ae, Malaita Province.
The man had sexual intercourse with the victim while she was about to have her bath at a water source close to her home.

The victim was taken to Kilufi’i Hospital for treatment and the matter was reported to police which led to the man’s arrest.

Steward Beto and Samuel Tovosia represent the Crown and Alice Silas and Ben Alasia represent the defendant.

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