High Court Judge finds 35yr‑old former school teacher guilty of rape and sexual assault

High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has found a 35‑year‑old former school teacher guilty of four counts of rape and nine counts of sexual assault.

The former teacher is charged with raping and sexually assaulting students at a school in Nasinu between 2010 to 2013.

He will be sentenced today.

Justice Temo states that the evidence of the nine complainants were credible and he accepts their evidence.

He further adds that the assessors are there to assist the trial judge and their opinions are to be taken seriously.

All the three assessors found the former school teacher guilty of four counts of rape and nine counts of sexual assault.

Justice Temo asked the defence counsel Aman Ravindra Singh what the appropriate sentence should be in his view.

Singh says that it is a nightmare for every parent and that the reality speaks for itself.

He adds that there was a clear breach of trust however he states that the accused should be given a sentence between 10 to 12 years.