Police Inspector denies claims Nalawa was assaulted prior to interview

Police Inspector Vijendra Nand who was the investigating officer in the case of the 9-year-old girl that was allegedly raped by 31-year-old Ilaitia Nalawa has denied claims that Nalawa was assaulted before he was interviewed.

Nand denied this before Justice Salesi Temo when defence lawyers put to him that Nalawa admitted the allegations because of the assault.

Nand also told the court that they started doing house to house enquiries from the 8th of July last year, the day after the alleged rape in Nakasi.

The Police Inspector says Nalawa was interviewed on the 8th and he gave Police a wrong name saying he was Josefa Sauduadua.

He was questioned and released on that day.

Nand said that Nalawa was again brought for an interview where he cooperated with the Police.

Another state witness Jolame Uacyisrael who is a Scientific Officer with the Fiji Police Force told the court that none of the DNA evidence of the accused was found on the items of the victim.

High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo said that DNA testing is new to Fiji.

Uacyisrael also said DNA testing started in the country just over a year ago.

He also told the court that the samples have to be preserved before testing.

The trial will continue at the Suva High Court today.