Six men appeared in Nausori Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing 17 charges of rape and assault related to two cases involving a 14-year-old girl in 2020. The individuals and the victim are all from the same village.
The first accused, a 22-year-old man, has been charged with seven counts of rape, while another 22-year-old man faces eight counts of the same charge. A 24-year-old man is charged with one count of rape. Additionally, a 25-year-old man and a 29-year-old man are jointly charged with one count of rape. In a separate case, the 29-year-old is also jointly charged with a 24-year-old man for assault causing actual bodily harm.
All the accused have been remanded in custody by the Nausori Magistrate’s Court. Their cases have been transferred to the High Court in Suva, with a scheduled hearing set for October 1, 2024.