Carnal abuse is a serious offence, but a policeman is of the view that jurors, particularly those who sit in the rural circuit courts, do not give just verdicts in such cases.

Although the prosecutors and the judges tell the jurors that a girl under the age of 16 cannot consent to have sexual intercourse," the policeman explained, "in most cases the directions have been ignored."

"I have seen sexual offence cases in which men over 30 years sexually molest girls 12 and 13 years old, but they walk free after the trial, and the evidence is very clear that the men committed the acts," he disclosed.

He said his opinion of the matter was that some people do not understand how 'traumatic' it can be for children who have to undergo such ordeals. "A child who is sexually assaulted can be left scarred for life and it is time jurors take those cases seriously," he stressed.

The policeman says he is upset when he sees the outcome of such cases, and he has often wondered how some of those jurors would feel if their young children or grandchildren were sexually molested.

Carnal abuse is an offence under the Offences against the Person Act. Section 50 of the act states that "Whosoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl above the age of twelve years and under the age of sixteen years shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years."

A person who sexually assaults a girl under the age of 12 years can be sentenced to life imprisonment.