A man whose charge has been reduced from rape to defilement will be entering his plea to the new charge on January 25.
The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim is in police custody.
His appearance on Monday was dispensed off due to the current vacation period by the courts. However, he is required to appear in court on the next date of hearing.
The maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment while the defilement carries the maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Public Prosecutor Elma Rizzu who appeared on instructions of her colleague Willy Vaiyu informed the court that the substitute charge was already served to the defence counsel.
She told the court the substitute was also filed in court on the last occasion.
The 21-year-old accused allegedly had sexual intercourse with the underage girl in 2014, at Lord Howe Island in the Malaita Outer Islands.
The alleged victim was 12 years of age at the time of the alleged offence.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
