Six men appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court yesterday, facing a total of 17 charges related to rape and assault stemming from two alleged incidents involving a 14-year-old girl in 2020.
The accused and the victim are all from the same village. The first accused, a 22-year-old man, is charged with seven counts of rape. Another 22-year-old man is facing eight counts of rape. A 24-year-old man is charged with one count of rape. Additionally, a 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old man have been jointly charged with one count of rape. In a separate case, the 29-year-old man is also jointly charged with the sixth accused, who is also 24 years old, for assault causing actual bodily harm.
All six men remain in custody, and their case has been moved to the Suva High Court, where it is scheduled to be heard again on October 1, 2024.