A MAN who assaulted and tied a young boy upside down from a kapok tree after claiming he spent the night with his 15-year-old niece has been sentenced to 16 months in prison.
Rudgard Lomoan has pleaded guilty to one count of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm.
Magistrate Michael Fagani, when sentencing the Lomoan, described what Lomoan did as a “Cruel Act.”
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday 12 August during the Central Court Circuit in Yandina.
The incident occurred on 14 July in Lioselen Village on Pavuvu Island in the Russell Islands.
It was heard that at about 8am, the victim was escorted into the village by one of the village members.
They claimed that the victim on the previous night was out with Lomoan’s 15-year-old niece and they were searching for the duo.
Lomoan was very angry about what the victim did and punched him in his face with his closed right fist, causing the complainant to go dizzy.
Thereafter Lomoan used a Japanese rope to tie the victim’s neck and led him to a kapok tree.
At that time, the victim was weak and dizzy.
The defendant, upon reaching the kapok tree, removed the rope from the victim’s neck, tied it to both the victim’s legs and hung him upside down from the tree.
The victim’s sister cried and gave $1,000 to Lomoan.
Lomoan then took down the victim from the Kapok tree.
The victim was in so much pain, and was ashamed by what the defendant did to him.
He sustained a swollen forehead and a painful neck and had difficulties swallowing food while eating.
The matter was later reported to the police and Lomoan was arrested and charged accordingly.
Defence counsel Sylvia Pitamama from the Public Solicitor’s Office represented Lomoan, while Police Prosecutor Florence Hiroshachi appeared for the Crown.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
