Dear Editor,

THIS letter is not about the guilt or innocence of the alleged accused of a reported very serious crime, “Taxi driver to face High Court trial over alleged rape of 12-year-old girl” in News Source of November 19, 2019. Such a determination, one is certain, will be made by a competent court, as reported.

My concern here is about the fact that a 12-year-old schoolgirl, taken by a taxi driver to a hotel, a public place, and allegedly violated, without questions being asked by presumably the reception desk, as to her age etcetera.

Editor, the Sexual Offences Act 2010 is specific about persons being complicit in reporting child sexual abuse. Under the Sexual Offences Act, “A person who attempts to commit, conspires with someone else to commit, encourages, aids or assists someone else to commit any sexual offence is guilty of an offence.” The relevant law(s) that exist in our jurisdiction debars underage girls, more so dressed in school uniforms, to be taken to such a place as a hotel, without instant eyebrows being raised or immediate objections being raised at the point of entry/enquiry and reported.

This fact is emphasised because, since it is an offence to be engaged in any form of sexual liaison with an underage, then it is carried that hotels ought not, for any reason of whatever kind, be part of aiding and abetting such an illegality, by accepting for accommodation of such an activity any child, particularly where the underage may be discernable.

These laws are already in existence in the Sexual Offences Act 2010, should be known by every hotel owner, especially reception staff. If infracted, then there should be penalties, as there must be when such violations of the law do occur.
Further, if there are hotels, in spite of existing laws, that support such an illegality of permitting sexual activities involving the underaged, then action must be taken against them.

Editor, the fact is that sexual violence in all its predatory forms is endemic in our society, particularly with a significant number of its victims being young under age females. While one must agree that the judiciary has not been sparing in its condign conclusion to those found guilty of such predatory behaviour, it is absolutely necessary that all support be given in taking the battle to wherever such monstrosities are known to take place, such as hotels. Both the law and society have a duty towards our young underage females, protecting them from the sexual fiends.

Regards,
Carla Mendonca