A MAN in his 60s accused of raping his 12-year-old daughter in their Honiara home has been remanded in custody, Thursday.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl because they are related, faces two counts of rape.
He appeared on Thursday in the Honiara Magistrate’s Court with a swollen face.
Police arrested him and was supposed to escort him to the court for the remand application but he was however taken to the National Referral Hospital due to the injuries on his face.
It was reported that his relatives assaulted him as a result of what he allegedly did to his young daughter.
Prosecution alleged the 64-year-old raped his daughter once in 2015 and again on 2 December 2016 at their residence.
It was alleged that the accused and his wife separated and his children are living with him at his home.
Prosecution alleged the girl was only 12-years of age at the time of the alleged offending.
She did not report the first alleged incident to the police because of alleged threats made by the accused.
It was after the second incident that she reported the matter to her sister-in-law and aunty, who assisted her to the police to report the alleged incidents.
Public Prosecutor Bradley Dalipanda yesterday applied for a 14 day remand.
Some of the grounds submitted by Dalipanda are the seriousness of the offence, safety of the accused, he might interview with prosecution witnesses and that he has no permanent job.
Principal Magistrate Augustine Aulanga, who heard the remand application, granted the request and remanded the accused in custody until December 22.
The accused is yet to engage a lawyer.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
