Police officer found guilty on four counts of rape

Suva High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has found a police officer guilty of four counts of rape.

He overturned the unanimous decision of the three assessors who found Tarajiani Bavesi not guilty on all four counts.

Justice Temo said he accepts the evidence of the two complainants on the four counts of rape against the accused because he finds their evidence credible.

The court heard that on May 13th 2013, police officer Bavesi was investigating the two women for allegedly stealing a mobile phone.

The accused went to their house on that day and requested them to go to Nakasi Police Station.

While they were on their way to the police station Bavesi stopped at the Nasinu Cemetery to interrogate the first complainant and raped her.

He sent the second complainant with another police officer to take the lead to the station.

Later the second complainant was also raped by the police officer.

Justice Temo said Bavesi’s behaviour in this case falls below the standard required of a police officer.