RSIPF investigates its own officer for sending sexually explicit photos of himself to female subordinates
A SENIOR police officer is under investigation following allegations he sent photographs taken of his private part to female officers under his command.
Six female police officers have lodged formal complaints against their boss, accusing him of sending them sexually explicit photographs of his private part as well as asking them for sex, according to documents sighted by Solomon Star.
One husband who has had access to his wife’s facebook account has also lodged a formal complaint, saying the man’s action and behaviour has brought the reputation and integrity of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) into total disrepute, according to one documents.
The Officer-In-charge of RSIPF media, Desmond Rave, yesterday confirmed the incident, but said the investigation has come to a half (stop) due to the bye-election in West Kwaio.
“The matter has been investigated by (the) Professional Standard Internal Investigation (PSII) of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF). Due to the upcoming Bye-Election in West Kwaio, the investigation halted,” Mr Rave said.
The female officers have raised their concerns in writing to the Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau, calling for the immediate removal of the Provincial Police Commander (PPC).
“Many female officers had raised this very sensitive matter before your high esteem office regarding the attitude and behaviour of the current supervising police commander (toward) them.
‘Many female officers had made account of the Police Commander in-boxing them via mobile phone or chat and displaying his erected private part and (asking) the female officers to expose their private part (in return) for him to see,” according to one letter dated 25th August 2022.
Solomon Star has sighted a copy of the two-page letter, which carried signatures of six female officers.
Apparently, the PPC’s behaviour has been going on since October last year, according to an account by one female officer.
“Almost every time we both chat, I always receive sexual harassment comments from him until I can’t take it anymore so I show(ed) his chats made to me to my husband …,” the female officer said.
“To avoid escalation of the issue should it reach the public, All RSIPF officers call on your high esteem office to seriously look into this matter and immediate removal of the current PPC supervising,” the letter addressed to Police Commissioner, said.
The female officer stopped chatting with her boss in June this year, according to the document.
RSIPF has taken the matter seriously that it sent its Deputy Police Commissioner, Juanita Matanga, to investigate the matter last month. It is understood the female police officers showed her the obscene photographs.
But it would seem nothing has been done.
Instead, police are using the West Kwaio Bye-election today as an excuse to stop the investigation – much to the anger of both female and male officers under the PPC’s command.
By Alfred Sasako
