Boy, 4, allegedly raped in NT remote community

POLICE are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a boy in a remote NT community just over a month since a two-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Tennant Creek.

The head of Territory Families, Ken Davies, says his department is trying to find out what happened to the boy.

EXCLUSIVE

A four-year-old boy from the community of Ali Curung, 170km southeast of Tennant Creek, has been taken to Alice Springs for medical care after he was allegedly sexually assaulted on Sunday evening.

It is understood a 17-year-old is being held after the incident allegedly occurred behind the community’s Baptist Church.

Northern Territory police told News Corp Australia in a statement: “Police from the Northern Territory Child Abuse Taskforce are investigating the alleged sexual assault of a child in a remote Northern Territory community.

The latest allegation comes just a month after the alleged rape of a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek.

“A youth is currently in custody and is assisting police with their inquiries. No one else is being sought in relation to this matter at this time.”

It follows the mid-February case of a two-year-old girl who was allegedly raped in Tennant Creek by a 24-year-old relative, who has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse. In that case, the child was flown to Adelaide for medical care.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said in a statement: “I’m aware of an alleged sexual assault of a child in Ali Curung. This is an extremely disturbing incident. Every child, no matter where they live, deserves to be in a safe environment.”

He said the matter would be referred to the Children’s Commissioner and that additional staff from Territory Families had been deployed to the community.

The head of Territory Families, Ken Davies, said his department was trying to find out what happened to the boy.

“I can’t say anything really expect we’ve got a team on the ground working with police,” Mr Davies said. “We have a Territory Families officer there and we’re there with police. We know the families fairly well.

“We’re trying to ascertain how serious it is. We’ll certainly be working closely with police.”