13-year-old girl allegedly sexually assaulted by taxi driver

Officers from the Henderson Police Station in Guadalcanal Province are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in the Henderson area on Tuesday.

It was alleged the victim boarded a taxi at Lungga and intended to travel to her home near the Henderson area.

Police said the taxi driver took a route that led away from the girl’s home and brought her to a remote place near the Henderson market where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.

The girl managed to get away from the taxi driver and later reported the incident to Henderson police.

Police Commissioner Matthew Varley said officers will work with community leaders to follow up on the taxi driver’s identity and whereabouts.

Mr Varley said no arrests have been made in the case.

“Of course, any assault or risk against young women in this country is abhorrent and should not be tolerated, and that’s why we’re dealing with this very seriously,” he said. “But at the same time, too, we don’t know too much more about this incident at this stage, and our investigations are still in an early phase.”

By Lowen Sei