The Lautoka High Court has acquitted a man of multiple charges, including one count of rape, one count of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. The ruling was delivered by High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma earlier this week.
The alleged incidents occurred in March 2022. Justice Sharma noted that the critical consideration at this stage of the trial was whether evidence existed for all elements of the charges against the accused.
Following the prosecution’s case, the defense requested the court for a dismissal of the charges. Justice Sharma emphasized that the lack of consent is a key element in these offenses, stating that the complainant’s admission of consent undermined a vital aspect of the prosecution’s claims. The state counsel acknowledged this point in fairness, leading the court to conclude that there was insufficient evidence regarding the element of consent to require the accused to present a defense.
As a result, the accused was found not guilty and acquitted of all three charges.