An asylum seeker who has traveled 10,000 miles around the world to the UK is accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl in Weymouth Beach.
Moffat Konofilia, a former football player for the national team of the Solomon Islands, traveled from the Pacific South Sea to the UK.
It is not known when or how Konofilia, 48, came in the UK, but he finally stayed on the Bibby Stockholm Migrant Barge in Portland Harbor, Dorset.
Konofilia has appeared for magistrates in Weymouth and did not argue guilty of the crime that would have happened in December 2023.
Although he speaks English, he said that his first language is Pijin, a common language on the Solomon Islands.
The court heard that he had two interviews for asylum since he arrived in the UK and claimed that the outcome of his application depends on the result of his court case.
Konofilia, who wore a white puffer jacket and gray training bases, must only be tried in January 2026.
But due to the seriousness of the statement, there will be an administrative hearing in April to see if an earlier test date can be found.
Moffat Konofilia, 48, (photo) is accused of sexual abuse of a teenage girl in Weymouth Beach in December 2023
A photo taken last year shows the Bibby Stockholm accommodation Barge that is moored at the Quayside in Portland Portland in Portland
Konofilia has appeared for magistrates in Weymouth (photo) and did not owe the violation that would have reported to have happened in December 2023
District court Orla Austin said: 'I am not willing to wait 10 months for this kind of case.
“In my opinion, this is the highest priority type we are dealing with.”
Konofilia was released on unconditional bail. He will then appear in court on April 23.
The controversial Bibby Stockholm ship closed last November after Sir Keir Starmer announced that the facility would be closed after the general election profit of LABOUR last year.
In January the ship from Portland Harbor sailed for the last time after the contract had passed and since then left the UK.
Konofilia now lives in Coventry, in a former accommodation building at Coventry University that has been converted to accommodate 100 asylum seekers.
The Solomon Islands are the seventh furthest country from Great Britain.
Australia, New -Zeeland and Papua -NEW -GUINEA are considered the primary destinations for asylum seekers of the Solomon Islands.
