THE man who allegedly raped a pregnant woman at Lunga appeared yesterday in the Honiara Magistrates court and was further remanded.
Ben Manai, 32 of Marau East Guadalcanal was accused of raping a nine-month old pregnant woman in the early morning of March 22 (last month), near the Sisi dance area at Lunga.
Public Prosecutor Maito’o Hauirae told Principal Magistrate Ricky Iomea that the investigation file has not yet reached their office and that police are still investigation the matter.
Ben Alasia of the Public Solicitor’s Office also said the case has just been allocated to him.
He sought disclosures which are likely to be available once the investigation is complete.
Manai was accused of raping the fully-blown pregnant woman near the Markwarth area.
The alleged victim was on her way home after selling her products at the Sisi dance (night dance) at Lungga sea side when she met the accused.
Manai reportedly greeted the women good morning but she did not reply and instead continued walking home.
The accused then allegedly grabbed hold of the woman and pulled her into the nearby bushes and allegedly raped her.
Investigators alleged that while the rape was taking place, the woman’s cell phone rang.
She quickly answered the caller, who was her sister, and informed her she was being raped and also gave her sister the location.
The sister alerted her brothers, who rushed to the location, and caught Manai at the scene.
They then called police, who attended to the distress call and took the suspect away.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
