Thursday October 15, 2015
Nauru's Justice Minister David Adeang
The Nauru government says a 26-year-old Somali woman may face charges of making a false complaint after police found there was no basis to her claim that she was raped.The justice minister, David Adeang, says a police investigation showed there was no rape and therefore as far as Nauru is concerned the person in question is not a rape victim or a victim of any crime.The statement comes after widespread criticism thatNauru released a police report which named the complainant.
Mr Adeang says the decision to include her name was the decision of the Nauruan authorities alone.
He says the police report was sent to a few media outlets, who already knew who she was, in the interests of accountability.
Mr Adeang says the media should stop blaming others, including the country's Australian PR company which merely distributed the government statement.
The minister says reports by the ABC, the Guardian and some other outlets were shameful, unethical and dishonest, and insulting to genuine victims of assault.