Foreigner admits keeping pictures of local girls
A FOREIGN national last Friday pleaded guilty to possessing digital photographs of private body parts of local girls as young as 12.
Masao Saito entered a guilty plea to one count of being in possession of child exploitation materials before Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo.
This relates to an incident on 27 November 2016, in which prosecution alleged he possessed digital photographs of child exploitation material on his laptop.
His laptop was seized by police upon his arrest.
Saito however, entered not guilty pleas to the three counts of procuration.
These were in relation to the allegation on various dates in October and November 2016 where he allegedly procured one unity home to provide commercial sexual service in Solomon Islands.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Shepherd Lapo having taking note of the accused’s pleas adjourned the matter to March 27.
This is to set a trial date to hear the allegations in relation to the charge of procuration.
It would be after the outcome of this trial that he will be sentenced for the first charge on which he pleaded guilty.
Adviser to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s Rachael Olutimayin has asked the court to deal with all charges together.
Saito is being represented by Chris Hapaof Pacific Lawyers.
Prosecution alleged Saito procured a unit home in Honiara where he allegedly took pictures of young local girls between 12 and 18 and stored them on his laptop.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
