relatives of a woman who was arrested and charged for failing to report a case of carnal abuse have said they are upset with the outcome of the case.

They said their relative should not have been charged because she had not encouraged her daughter to become intimately involved with the man.

According to one of the relatives, it was only after the girl became pregnant the mother realised she was having an affair with a man who lived in the community.

"I cannot understand how the mother could be charged because she did not encourage her daughter, or the man, to become involved in a relationship," the relative said.

"It was weeks after the mother discovered that her 15-year-old girl was pregnant that she told her she was having an affair with the man. She said the man gave her lunch money to go to school and was very kind to her.

"My cousin, who is the girl's mother, was very shocked to know the girl was pregnant. She cried night and day. She called the man and questioned him. He admitted that he and the girl were having an affair.

"The man promised to take care of the child during her pregnancy and also said he was going to support his child. A woman who lived next door knew the girl was pregnant and the police.

"The mother said she was at home and the police came there and questioned her and the girl. Now my cousin is charged with aiding and abetting carnal abuse. The man who got her pregnant is also charged with carnal abuse.

My cousin said she did not know that she had to report the matter to the police because the man stood up to his responsibility and was giving financial support to the girl.

I don't think it was fair for the police to arrest the mother because she did not know her daughter was involved in a sexual relationship with the man.

"The man was also arrested and charged with carnal abuse but my view is that since he was supporting the girl since the pregnancy, he should not have been arrested and charged with carnal abuse," the relative said.

Once the mother discovered her daughter was pregnant, it became her duty to report the matter to the police. The Child Care and Protection Act places a duty on adults to report such cases to the police. You cannot feel sorry for the man. He is an adult and had a responsibility to protect the girl.