Six men appeared in the Nausori Magistrates Court yesterday, facing a total of 17 charges related to rape and assault involving a 14-year-old girl in two separate alleged incidents from 2020. All individuals involved, including the victim and the accused, are from the same village.
The first accused, a 22-year-old man, faces seven counts of rape, while another 22-year-old accused has been charged with eight counts. 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 the sixth accused, a 24-year-old man, for assault causing actual bodily harm.
All accused have been remanded in custody, and their case has been transferred to the Suva High Court, where it is set to be heard again on October 1, 2024.