15-year-old girl sold for K100 to two men for sex

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

15-year-old girl sold for K100 to two men for sex

PORT MORESBY: A 15-year-old girl, who was sold for K100n to two men for sex, was found in a guesthouse in an immigration-police inspection yesterday (Aug 3, 2021).

The two men were trying to find a room for thgemselves and the girl when the officers arrived.

The news break was published by The National:

 

Caught red-handed

August 4, 2021The NationalMain Stories

The 20-year-old woman and the two men being interviewed by immigration and police officers. – Nationalpics by KENNEDY BANI

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A 15-YEAR-OLD girl, found in a guesthouse during a spot check by immigration and police officers yesterday, said she was sold, without her knowledge, by her cousin sister for K100 to two men for sex.
Officers of the Immigration and Citizenship Authority (ICA) and police happened to arrive at the guesthouse for a spot check just when the two men were trying to find a room for them and the girl.
The guesthouse at 5-Mile in Port Moresby was next on the officers’ list as they crack down on illegal activities by businessmen and foreigners who have become naturalised citizens.
They found the girl among around 20 men and women inside.
They realised that the business was providing other services than just accommodation.

The 20-year-old woman and the two men being interviewed by immigration and police officers. – Nationalpics by KENNEDY BANI

The girl when questioned by the officials broke down, saying she was forced to follow the two men by her cousin sister.

“My cousin asked my mother for me to spend a night with her.

“My mother allowed me to spend a night,” she said.

“But (yesterday morning), my cousin said she wanted us to go to the second-hand (shop).
“She took me out of the house at 4-Mile and took me to Gordon.
“We met a guy from Popondetta who my cousin said was a friend of hers, and a man from Southern Highlands.
“My cousin told me to keep her friends company while she went to look for betel nut.

The 15-year-old girl after she was rescued by immigration and police officers who were conducting “spot checks” at a guest house in 5-mile Port Moresby, yesterday.

“However, she didn’t return.
“And with no bus fare, I was forced to follow the two men.
“They both told me they had paid some money to my cousin.”
The officers found out that the cousin had sold her to the two men for K100, for an hour of sex.
The two men, released with others in the guesthouse, were tracked down at Vision City, where officers found them with the cousin sister.
They had used the girl to find out where the three were after they had left the guesthouse.
The three were surprised when they were surrounded by ICA and police officers.
They were taken to the ICA office in Waigani where they were interviewed.
The girl’s 20-year-old cousin admitted to the officers that the man from Popondetta was her brother-in-law.
Last night, the three were detained at the 6-Mile police station for further interrogation today.
Police plan to charge the two men with “obtaining the services of child prostitution”.
The 20-year-old cousin will likely face a charge of “officering, facilitating and receiving benefits from child prostitution”.
It is understood that the girl was taken back to her relatives.
ICA officers and police began their spot checks last weekend arresting people especially foreigners they believe have been involved in illegal activities.
Some are also being investigated for breaching their visa conditions.

Parents can be charged

August 4, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
PARENTS who allow their children to work in nightclubs and brothels can be arrested and charged, an official says.
Simon Yanis, the director of the Office of the Child and Family Service, told The National that the Lukautim Pikinini Act protected girls aged 18 years and below.
And places such as nightclubs and brothels are not appropriate for them.
“We are suspecting that there are underage girls working in nightclubs to support their families,” he said.
“There is an influx of young girls from Central and Gulf being employed in clubs.”
He said they could be abused as they were minors. “I don’t know whether parents are allowing that to happen.
“That’s really against the spirit of the Lukautim Pikinini Act,” he said.
He said his office would protect children.
“We can inspect nightclubs with the police. We used to do that before but haven’t done it lately,” he said.
“We are suspecting that there are some kind of situations where girls are forced to get such jobs.
“Many of the children we identified to be doing odd jobs are mostly not raised by their relatives or single parents. As the director, I am appealing to the parents to be (aware) where your daughters are.”
Yanis said girls must be protected as they were underaged who warrant care from caregivers.