A police officer accused of having sexual intercourse with his wife’s niece in Makira province over a two years period since 2016, has been arrested, charged and released on bail on Saturday.
The police constable, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim, is facing one count of sexual intercourse with a child under fifteen years.
He was released on a cash bail of $1,000, with strict bail conditions imposed on him.
The bail application was made in court on Saturday in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court via a mobile telephone call in the court room with police prosecutors in Makira as the accused is in Kirakira, Makira.
The officer will face the court again on May 1, in Kirakira when during a court circuit that will be conducted there at that time.
He was accused of having sexual intercourse with the alleged victim when she was 11 years of age in 2016 at a village in Makira and was in grade three at that time.
Prosecution alleged she was living with her aunt and the accused at the time of the alleged offending.
It was alleged the first incident occurred when the alleged victim’s aunt was away at another village attending a church program.
The accused then allegedly threatened to kill her if she ever told her aunt of what had happened.
Prosecution further alleged that the alleged offending continued over the years until March this year when she finally told her cousin sister about the incident.
The cousin sister allegedly forced the alleged victim to admit what was going on until the alleged victim told her grandmother of the alleged incidents.
The alleged victim’s relatives assisted her to Kirakira police station where they reported the matter to the police.
The Professional Standards and International Investigation (PSII) staff from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) attended Kirkira police station where they formally arrested the accused on April 13.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
