Woman who claimed she was abducted and sold for sex charged for allegedly lying

The woman who claimed that she was drugged, abducted, tortured and sold for sex has been charged with allegedly Giving False Information to a Public Officer.

In a statement, Police Chief of Intelligence and Investigations ACP Biu Matavou says the 19-year-old woman was charged following a thorough investigation conducted by the Divisional Crime Officer Eastern ASP Ifereimi Savou and a team of investigators.

She has been charged with 2 counts of Giving False Information to a Public Servant and will appear in the Nausori Magistrates Court on Monday.

Matavou says initial information provided by the woman stated that she was drugged and abducted late last month and found herself in a strange home in the Bau area, where she saw other girls who were also taken forcefully by the same woman who gave her a beverage to consume in Vatuwaqa.

Matavou says they managed to locate the woman who she claimed had abducted her and discovered that she had gone willingly with her after the woman found her asking for money and wanting to get away from home.

She went to the woman’s home and stayed with her family for one week, before running away again.

Matavou says it was shortly later that she made the allegations of abduction against the woman who had initially offered her a place to stay after seeing her asking for money.

He also confirms that other witnesses have also come forward with information that strongly contradicts the claims made by the 19-year-old woman and forensic drug tests conducted have all turned out negative.

She was also taken for psychiatric evaluation before she was officially charged.

Matavou stresses investigators worked tirelessly on this case considering the seriousness of the allegations and many have been quick to vilify a woman whose sole intention was to assist a woman in need which is of great concern.

He has also revealed that options have been provided to the woman who has been attacked online about her involvement in the abduction case if she wishes to lodge a report against those attacking her online.

Matavou says a lot of time and resources were directed to this case which could have been put to better use in investigating genuine cases.