A 10-year-old boy has been charged with the sexual assault of an Italian national in Cairns, according to the Queensland Police Service.
On May 9, Cairns Police Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said they received a call at 10 a.m. a day earlier and that the assault against the 23-year-old Italian woman happened in a busy shopping area in the city’s CBD.
“Whilst the young lady was notifying police, those in the offending party had set on her and were throwing objects at her and punching her while she was trying to engage with police on a phone call,” he said, in a statement to The Epoch Times.
Det. Insp. Goan said the woman suffered minor injuries in the “frightening” situation.
Police said the child was caught with the help of the city CCTV network and another member of the group had also been dealt with under the Juvenile Justice Act.
The boys are not in custody. However, the children are known to police, who are aware of where they are.
Officers will also be looking into some of the other boys in the group.
“It is a sad indictment that she has experienced this in our community,” Det. Insp. Goan said.
“We are hoping it won’t deter her from what the rest of Cairns has to offer.”
The Queensland Police Service said the 10-year-old boy was charged with one count each of sexual assault, common assault, and assault occasioning bodily harm whilst in company.
The police investigation into the alleged incident is ongoing.
