THE 47-year-old man accused of exposing his genital to two girls aged 13 and 14 in Isabel Province in 2022 will return to court on August 18 for the sentencing submissions and mitigation.
The defendant who could not be named to protect the victims’ identities, have pleaded guilty to two counts of Indecent Act on a previous court date.
The case has now reached the sentencing submission and mitigation stage.
On Monday, the defence counsel, however, sought a 14-day adjournment to enable the defendant, who is sick to attend to a scheduled appointment, and after which a medical report could be obtained.
The defence counsel is planning to use the medical evidence as a mitigating factor.
The court also heard the agreed summary of facts is yet to be settled.
The court has directed parties to settle outstanding issues and further adjourned the matter to August 18.
The two charges relate to an incident in 2022 in a village in Isabel Province.
According to the initial reports, two girls were on their way to a Chief’s residence to do laundry when the defendant called out to them from a nearby house.
When the two girls approached him, the defendant exposed his genital to them.
The girls were outraged by the defendant’s behavior and subsequently reported the incident to the police, which led to the defendant’s arrest.
The defendant is not from Isabel but lives there.
The Public Solicitor’s Office is representing the defendant while the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
Solomon Star, Honiara
