Social Welfare awaits Police probe on 2 females brought back from PNG

The Social Welfare Ministry will await the Police investigation to establish if the two females who have been brought back from Papua New Guinea, were victims of human trafficking.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar said she met the 14-year-old girl over the weekend while the 21-year-old woman is back with the family.

The issues surrounding how the two females ended up in PNG, why the families allowed them to go and who was staying with them, are now being assessed.

Akbar said this is a serious case and they are now awaiting the full investigation.

Akbar said they could not do much when they were earlier alerted that the two females were going to PNG in December.

There are reports that the girl was kept at a motel in PNG.

It is also alleged that the 21-year-old had sustained injuries.

The 14 year old girl will continue to be under state care, till further investigations and risk assessment is conducted by the Ministry and Police.

Police say their investigators are now looking into the travel arrangements of the two Fijian nationals who were brought back into the country from Papua New Guinea.

A person has been questioned by Police as they continue to liaise with their counterparts in PNG for assistance to ascertain what transpired during their stay.