There is a case to answer.
That was the ruling made by Suva High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan this morning in relation to the trial against Inoke Raikadroka and Mohammed Sagaitu.
Raikadroka is charged with seven counts of domestic trafficking in children and slavery while Sagaitu is charged with 2 counts of trafficking in children.
Judge Madigan said he has given much thought and has analyzed the submissions from the defense counsels and he finds that none of the submissions made can be substantiative.
Last week, the two counsels representing the accused, Seremaia Savou and Romanu Vananalagi said there was no case to answer.
The alleged offence happened between May to December, 2012 where the two accused trafficked two girls aged 16 and 17 and a 20-year-old woman between Suva and Nadi.
24-year-old Raikadroka opted to take the stand today and said that he met the three young women at Sukuna Park.
Raikadroka said he had a meeting with the girls as they were living the same lifestyle in the sex trade business.
He told the girls they were too beautiful to be out in the streets and he was willing to arrange better clients for them.
After their first meeting on June 2012, Raikadroka said the girls were willing to work with him.
He also said that he managed all the money collected for the services they provided.
Meanwhile second accused, Mohammed Sagaitu disputed some of the information in his caution interview in court today.
Sagaitu said that he was not a pimp and he only arranged clients for the girls.
He said that the girls were transported to the clients and he would then get his cut depending on the client.
However, Judge Madigan said that is a way of pimping.
Sagaitu also disputed that he did not have enough time to read through the caution interview before signing it.
The case continues tomorrow with a defence witness taking the stand.
Story by: Tokasa Rainima and Elizabeth Rokosuka
