CUSTOM DOCTOR CONVICTED FOR RAPE
The High Court of Solomon Islands. Photo credit: SIBC.
The High Court has convicted a 73 year old custom doctor from Isabel province for raping a 15 year old girl at a village in Isabel province last year.
The man initially stood trial for two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
But Justice Francis Mwanesalua acquitted him from the other two charges and only convicted him of the rape charge.
The Court heard a medical examination conducted in December 2013 confirmed the girl had been sexually penetrated at some time.
The victim lived close to the custom doctor in the same village in Isabel.
Justice Mwanesalua set down the date for sentencing mitigation and submissions for Monday next week.
Meanwhile, the accused’s lawyer has informed the Court, his client has serious medical conditions and cannot be remanded.
Justice Mwanesalua granted bail for the convicted rapist until his sentence.