Chiefs will be arrested first if an underage missing girl is found in their village – Inspector Mateiwai

Village chiefs are warned that they will be the first person to get arrested if a missing woman or an underage girl is found in their village.

This was highlighted by Fiji Police Force Sexual Offence Child Abuse Unit, Inspector Unaisi Mateiwai while speaking at an evangelism programme conducted by the Masu Ga Ministry at Drekena Village in Rewa.

She says one village they had visited, where they had to go on a bamboo raft and then horseback ride to reach the village, the chief of that village was the first one to be arrested after a missing girl was found in their village.

Inspector Mateiwai says the role of the chief is to know if there are new people in their village, and if a new woman or girl is brought into the village, their job is to know where that woman or girl comes from.

She adds if the girl is underage and the village chief, the district leader and the church minister allow her to reside in the village, then the person arrested can be imprisoned for 14 to 16 years.

Inspector Mateiwai reminds chiefs that cases such as defilement and abduction are not taken lightly by the Court.