FATHER of the 24 year old local who was a victim in the Trevor Garland alleged sexual assault case says that he is really disappointed with Mr Garland and wants authority to investigate and make sure he fully meets consequences.
Speaking exclusively to the Solomon Star on Monday, the father who declined to be named said that his son deserves good medical treatment but what his son experienced in Sydney under the so called care of Sir Trevor Garland showed that he didn’t respect his son’s purpose to go there for life saving heart operation.
“When I heard the news about my son, tears fell down my eyes.
“This was because when they send my son to that hospital, I have all hopes within me that son will be well soon and not to go through such experience,” the father said.
He added that its the worst case which against local culture.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported the victim in this case was a patient from Solomon Islands he was helping look after as part of 10-bed program with St. Vincent Hospital.
The father said, “when we send patients to St Vincent Hospital; we are expecting good results and not such bad results.
“I want to appeal to other Solomon Islanders who were also victims to the same people to come and speak out clearly to make sure Garland meets the consequences.”
According to reports Police arrested Garland, 62, last Thursday in Sydney and charged him with four counts of aggravated sexual assault.
He remains under police custody and is expected to lodge a bail application when his case returns to court, this Tuesday.
Garland appeared before Central Local Court on Friday via videolink, shaking and sighing repeatedly, wearing an untucked white shirt.
Police have arrested him after he attended Kings Cross Police Station about 9am on Thursday, charging him with four counts of aggravated sexual assault of a 24-year-old man “under authority of offender”.
The alleged attacks took place on four separate days between March and April last year at Garland’shistoric home, “The Oaks” at Oakhurst in Sydney’s west, police said.
Detectives from Strike Force Moorooba raided the Victorian mansion on Thursday, seizing “a number of items”.
Garland, knighted by Prince Charles in 2010 for his services to the Solomon Islands, was also charged with two counts of illegally accessing medical records of a St Vincent’s patient on January 15 from a computer at his home.
The alleged victim of the sexual assaults was a patient in the “10 bed” program that has brought gravely ill Solomon Islands residents to Sydney for free treatment each year.
St Vincent’s Hospital said it had taken “immediate steps to ensure the safety of our patients” and banned Garland from entering hospital grounds.
“Garland is not an employee of St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney and does not act on the hospital’s behalf in any capacity,” a spokeswoman said.
“Garland was appointed by the Solomon Islands Government and its High Commission in Australia to provide out-of-hospital support to islanders participating in the St Vincent’s-Solomon Islands tertiary patients referral program.
“The Solomon Islands government is responsible for overseeing the activities of this role.”
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement Sir Trevor “has never been employed by DFAT or represented Australia in any diplomatic capacity”.
By LESLEY SANGA
