21 people charged with total of 31 separate incidents of serious sexual offences in November

21 people were charged with a total of 31 separate incidents of serious sexual offences in November.

This includes three police officers, a school headteacher, a grandfather, a stepfather, cousins and brothers-in-law.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions says there were 15 cases of rape, 3 cases of abduction with intent to have carnal knowledge, 6 cases of indecent assault, 1 case of defilement and 6 cases of sexual assault.

Of the 21 people charged, three were police officers.

Two police officers from Labasa aged 43 and 53 years have been charged with two counts of abduction with intent to have carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old girl while a 30-year-old police officer from Lau was charged with two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault of a 25-year-old female police officer.

There were 20 victims of the 31 separate incidents in November of whom 15 victims were under the age of 18 years.

There was one incident where a school head teacher was charged with sexual offences. He was charged with rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and indecently annoying his students.

In another incident, three high school students aged 18 and 19 years from Nausori were charged with raping a 14-year-old student. However, this matter was withdrawn after a discontinuance was filed by the DPP’s Office. The case was withdrawn due to inconsistencies in the 14-year-old girl’s evidence.

There was another horrific case where four men aged 19, 20 and 29 years allegedly raped an 18-year-old woman in Navosa. They were cousins and brothers-in‑law of the victim.

Meanwhile, a 28-year-old man was charged with a count of abduction with the intent to have carnal knowledge of a 17-year-old girl. The victim fell pregnant as a result.

There were 4 incidents where the accused and victims were related to one another.

A 61-year-old grandfather has been charged with raping his 8-year-old granddaughter.

A stepfather was also charged in another matter for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter and in another incident, a man was charged with raping and sexually assaulting his 9-year-old cousin.

Three cases were withdrawn due to insufficient or inconsistent evidence.