The Lae Metropolitan Command is taking drastic measures to curb sexual offence crimes in the city.
Lae Police Boss Anthony Wagambie Jr, who is also the Chairman of the Family Sexual Violence Committee in Lae, announced that Lae Police will not be entertaining out of court settlements for sexual offence cases.
Mr Wagambie said, a number of sexual offence cases, are dealt with out of court, meaning victims and their families are compensated, or they reach an understanding with the perpetrators.
“Those who entertain compensation and out of court settlements are as guilty as the offenders.”
He said this does not bring justice to the victims, stating that perpetrators must be dealt with, by being arrested and charged.
From June to December 2017, there were 88 cases reported to Lae Metropolitan’s Sexual Offence Squad.
Most of these cases involve sexual abuse of minors below the age of 12 and 16, with perpetrators known to the victims.
Out of the 88 cases, most are still pending, with about up to four cases being withdrawn and settled out of court.
So far, there have been four sexual offence cases reported to Lae’s Metropolitan Command this year.
Mr Wagambie is urging the general public in Lae to report sexual offence cases to the nearest police station, or use the police toll free number: 70903300.
There have also been two new police Family Sexual Violence Units (FSVU) established at the Chinatown and 3 Mile police stations.
Mr Wagambie warned that anyone found to be facilitating out of court settlements for sexual offence cases will be arrested and charged.
