Father in court for raping daughter

TONGA – On Thursday 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 allegedly raped his child and assaulted his wife. This incident happened 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 a few minutes she came back with her neighbours and caught the suspect raping the four-year-old 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 had been summoned to the scene. He was apprehended after police had received a tip-off on his whereabouts. The child was taken to Tonga Hospital for medical attention. According to Nyambi it was confirmed that she had been 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 have committed 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. Bail was denied and he is still in custody.