One of the two men convicted of sexually assaulting a married woman at Korean Wharf in 2017 has had his application for an appeal against his conviction denied by the Supreme Court.
The case dates back to June 2017, when the victim and her husband, who had recently moved to Taveuni to start a new business, were enjoying an evening at a beach. They were approached by the accused and their girlfriends, who joined them for drinks and cigarettes. Later that night, they all traveled together to a local establishment for more drinking before the women were taken home.
At around 4 AM, the victim, who had fallen asleep, was woken by the two men raping her. She recognized them by their body odor and voice, and felt a deep sense of confusion and fear, especially as her husband was nowhere in sight. When her husband finally returned, he seemed disoriented and unaware of what had transpired. Despite her attempts to communicate the urgency of the situation by whispering to him, she was uncertain if her message reached him.
Once the men exited the vehicle, she disclosed to her husband that she had been raped, noting he had a bruise on his head, indicating he may have been assaulted as well. The couple promptly informed their family of the incident and then contacted the police, followed by a visit to the Taveuni District Hospital.
After a thorough trial, both men received sentences of 14 years for rape, along with a concurrent 7-year sentence for sexual assault. Justices Brian Keith, Terence Arnold, and Lowell Goddard reviewed the case on October 30, stating that the evidence presented during the trial, including medical findings and the prompt reporting of the incident, supported the verdicts given. They concluded that no substantial miscarriage of justice occurred regarding the appeal.
This ruling underscores the importance of the judicial system in addressing and remedying cases of sexual violence, and it highlights a commitment to upholding justice for victims.
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