Six men appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court yesterday, facing a total of 17 charges of rape and assault related to two alleged incidents involving a 14-year-old girl in 2020. All parties involved, including the victim and the accused, are from the same village.
The first defendant, a 22-year-old, faces seven counts of rape. The second, also 22 years old, has been charged with eight counts of rape. A 24-year-old man is charged with one count of rape.
Additionally, a 25-year-old and a 29-year-old are jointly charged with one count of rape, while the 29-year-old is also jointly charged with the 24-year-old in a second case of assault causing actual bodily harm.
All six men have been remanded 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.