Nine men on tiny Pitcairn Island, home of descendants of the mutineers from Captain Bligh’s Bounty and one of the most isolated places on the globe, have been charged with sex offences on island girls, it was reported on Saturday.
The Pacific island’s public prosecutor, Simon Moore, who is based in Auckland, New Zealand, laid the charges after travelling to the island, Radio New Zealand reported.
They follow an investigation by British police into allegations of sexual abuse on the island.
Moore said he would lay further charges against other islanders now living in New Zealand when he returned home in about two weeks.
Pitcairn, Britain’s last Pacific island colony, is little more than a volcanic rock about 5 300 kilometres west of New Zealand, and currently has a population of about 45.
Late last year, the New Zealand government passed a law enabling the coming trials to be held on its territory because Pitcairn has no airport, no hotel, no harbour and relies on rain for its fresh water supply.
Justice Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand would simply provide the venue and have no input into the trials, although New Zealanders hold key offices in the Pitcairn justice system, including the judges, prosecutor and the public defender.
Pitcairn Island was first settled in 1790 by nine crew from the British ship the Bounty, including first mate Fletcher Christian, who led a mutiny against the bullying Captain William Bligh, and some Tahitians. They remained there in secret until 1808. — Sapa-DPA