Father rapes daughter

TONGA – On Friday the 36-year-old father who was arrested for raping his four-year-old daughter, and assaulting his wife, appeared in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court.

According to Tonga SAPS spokesman, Lt Mzwandile Nyambi, the accused was arrested five days after he had raped his child and assaulted his wife.

This incident occurred on August 15 in Magudu trust.

“The complainant, who is the mother of the child, alleges that she was asleep on that fateful night when the suspect came home drunk and assaulted her for no reason. The complainant then ran away to get some help, leaving her children in the house, after some few minutes she came back with her neighbours and found the suspect raping the four-yearold girl,” Nyambi explained.

He added that when the mother returned with the neighbours, the accused fled. A case of rape was opened against him after police were summoned to the scene. The accused was apprehended after police received a tip-off of his whereabouts.

The four-year-old child was taken to Tonga Hospital to receive medical attention, according to Nyambi it was also confirmed that she was indeed raped. “She is now receiving counselling.”

During a radio interview last week he added that the prevalence of rape cases in Tonga was alarming. He added that they would not hesitate to take the necessary legal steps against those who were reported or found to commit this crime.

“Women must report any form of abuse they come across as it is their democratic right to be protected,” Nyambi concluded.

The father of the victim had been remanded in custody after his first court appearance. He was expected to take the stand again on August 27 for bail application.