BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
POLICE Commissioner Matthew Varley has condemned the alleged sexual offence committed by a police constable in Makira province.
Speaking during the Commissioner’s weekly media conference, Mr Varley said the case is another extremely serious issue which relates to the integrity of the police force.
“It is a grave concern and a grave offence if this allegation is proven in court I must stress that no police officer want to hear these types of allegation and it struck at the very heart of what police officers should be doing as role models in protecting the community,” Varley said.
He said the police constable is now suspended and investigation is currently ongoing and likely further possible charges will be laid.
Varley said members of the Professional Standard Internal Investigation team along with Makira provincial police have been investigating the report of the alleged sexual assault of the young girl in Makira province by the police officer.
And after that investigation the police constable has been arrested and interviewed and is charged with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse of a child under the age of 15 years.
Varley said the victim is a 13-year-old girl who is a relative of the police officer’s wife.
The alleged sexual offence took place over a period of some two years dating back to 2016 and that young girl being a relative lived with the police officer and his family at that time in various periods.
“This is a very serious allegation of child abuse,” Varley said.
He said the organisation will not entertain such behaviour in the police force and any officer caught on such serious misconduct will be seriously and thoroughly investigated.
