PNG official deported for sex offence

A BUREAUCRAT from Papua New Guinea will be deported after trying to procure a minor for sex in Tasmania.

Casper Hauaiembe, 52, came to Hobart this year for a six-week project management course at TasTAFE.

Hauaiembe, who works for the PNG Government, was staying at TasTAFE’s Warrane campus when he contacted a child on Facebook Messenger in May.

The father of the 10-yearold child assumed the identity of his son and told Hauaiembe he was communicating with a 13-year-old.

Hobart’s Supreme Court yesterday heard Hauaiembe then suggested a meeting, prompting the father to report the matter to police.

Police assumed the identity of the child and continued talking to Hauaiembe.

After being told he was talking to a boy, a meeting was arranged where Hauaiembe thought he would be introduced to the child’s 12-year-old sister. He caught a bus to the meeting place in Bligh St, Warrane and was met by police.

During a police interview, he said people aged more than 12 in PNG were often viewed as adults but admitted it would be wrong to sleep with a 13-yearold. He said he would have only had acted if the “girl” had consented.

Hauaiembe was charged with one count of communicating with the intent to procure a minor for sex and pleaded guilty.

Prosecutor Mick asked for Hauaiembe Allen to be placed on the sex offender register. The court heard this was the man’s first overseas trip and he worked as a bureaucrat in Social Services to support his five children.

Defence lawyer Alan Hensley said his client had strong “clan” ties in his homeland and there was significant concern for him on his return.

Justice Stephen Estcourt said it was a significant “fall from grace” for Hauaiembe and he faced “possible enmity” once he was back in PNG.

But he said such a crime needed to be strongly denounced by the courts.

He sentenced Hauaiembe to 76 days prison, backdated to May 8 when he was first taken into custody.

Hauaiembe was taken into custody by Australian Border Force and will be deported.