Tebakor student denies Police claims and accuses officers of assault

Oct 4, 2024 | News | 0 |

Diana Isaac, a student from Tebakor, has come forward to dispute a police statement regarding an incident in which she was allegedly assaulted by officers.

The incident, which took place at Fatumaru Bay, involved Ms Isaac and two friends being approached by police who accused them of being intoxicated. The police, in their public statement, claimed that Isaac, who was in her school uniform, was drunk and uncooperative. However, Isaac has refuted these claims, saying she was not under the influence of alcohol and that the police acted unjustly.

Speaking about the encounter, Isaac described how she and her friends were sitting at Fatumaru Bay in the late afternoon when two officers approached them, asking what they were doing. After checking their bags for alcohol and finding none, the officers left, only for another group of officers to return later in the evening. Ms Isaac explained that the second interaction quickly escalated, with one officer becoming aggressive, shouting at them to go home. Isaac said she attempted to explain herself but was cut off by a Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) officer who allegedly verbally abused her, calling her derogatory names.

She continued to defend herself, trying to explain that she was waiting for a friend when one of the officers allegedly punched her in the face, leaving her bleeding. Shocked and disoriented, Isaac questioned why they had assaulted her, but the officers allegedly offered no explanation and instead ordered her to accompany them to the police station.

Upon arrival at the station, Isaac claims the officers did not follow proper protocol and left her without assistance at the front desk. She was further disheartened when officers at the station made inappropriate remarks, asking hypothetical questions about what might have happened if she had been raped, rather than offering any real help or medical attention.

The official police statement released following the incident painted a different picture, alleging that Ms Isaac was intoxicated and aggressive, and that the injury to her mouth was accidental. However, Isaac, her family, and her sister, Dorothy Alanna Isaac, have strongly denied these accusations. Dorothy, speaking on behalf of their parents, emphasised that Isaac has always been responsible about informing her family when she goes out and that she was not drinking alcohol that night.

The family expressed their deep disappointment in the police’s handling of the situation, with Dorothy stating, “Police are supposed to be our friends, people we look up to, but in this case, they failed to act responsibly. Instead of helping her or taking her to the hospital, they allegedly assaulted her and left her without support.”

She added that the police’s public statement was allegedly filled with falsehoods, asserting that the officers had checked Diana’s bag and found nothing, yet still resorted to violence.

The family is now calling for accountability, urging the police to ensure such incidents do not happen to other young people in the future. “It hurts us deeply,” Dorothy said. “We don’t want this to happen to another person again.”

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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She is frightened to return home, her mother may be financially dependent on the perpetrator, and younger children in the household may also be at risk. “The police can investigate the crime. But who assesses whether she is safe to go home that afternoon? Who helps her family find a safe way forward? Who ensures she receives medical care, counselling and ongoing support? And who follows up to make sure she remains safe?” the Ministry asks. “These questions cannot wait months or years for a criminal trial to conclude.” Vanuatu already has laws criminalising rape, incest and other sexual offences. Police, prosecutors and courts play an essential role in investigating crimes and holding perpetrators accountable. However, the MOJYCS says criminal investigations and child protection responses serve different purposes. “A criminal investigation asks whether an offence was committed and who is responsible. A child protection response must ask a different, equally urgent question: is this child safe, and what needs to happen now to protect them?” the Ministry says. “Protecting a child must begin when abuse comes to light, not when a perpetrator is convicted.” The Ministry says this is why the proposed Child Protection Bill matters. The Bill seeks to establish a stronger legal framework for protecting children at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. It would establish clearer reporting responsibilities, strengthen the authority of child protection officers to assess and respond to abuse, and provide mechanisms for emergency protection, court orders and safe alternative care. The MOJYCS says these measures would establish clear responsibilities and provide the legal authority needed to intervene when a child is in danger. “A child who discloses sexual abuse needs more than a police investigation. That child needs to be safe tonight, tomorrow and in the months and years that follow,” the Ministry says. Parliament has an opportunity to act The MOJYCS recognises that families, chiefs, churches and communities all have important roles in protecting children. However, it says informal arrangements and goodwill are not always enough when abuse occurs within a family or community. Children need a system with clear legal responsibilities, trained professionals and the authority to intervene when their safety is at risk, the Ministry says. It also cautions that legislation alone will not end child sexual abuse. A strong Child Protection Bill must be backed by trained child protection officers, accessible services, effective referral pathways and sustained investment, including in rural and remote communities. Without these investments, the MOJYCS warns, the promise of stronger legal protection risks remaining just that — a promise. For children experiencing abuse, the Ministry says, the issues are not abstract questions about legislation or government responsibilities. They concern immediate safety, dignity, care and recovery. The MOJYCS says a child’s access to protection should not depend on where they live, whom they know or whether someone happens to be available to help when they disclose abuse. “To the MPs who will consider the Child Protection Bill this month: the children behind these headlines deserve more than our concern. They deserve action,” the Ministry says. “Vanuatu cannot undo the abuse these children have suffered. But it can decide what happens when the next child comes forward. “Pass a strong Child Protection Bill. Commit the resources needed to make it work. And ensure that when a read more…

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