An 18-year-old student took the stand as a defence witness yesterday before High Court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan in the trial of Inoke Raikadroka and Mohammed Sagaitu.
Raikadroka is charged with 7 counts of domestic trafficking in children and slavery while Sagaitu is charged with 2 counts of trafficking in children.
In court today the witness was questioned by Defence Counsel Seremaia Savou and she confirmed that she was with the three sisters at Sukuna Park where they met Raikadroka for the first time.
After their first meeting in June 2012, the witness said that they were all willing to work for Raikadroka.
The witness said in court that Raikadroka assured them he would find them better clients and would help them earn more money than their former pimp.
She said that she witnessed the sisters going out with clients from their current accommodation back in 2012.
The defence witness also highlighted in court that she was moving with the three sisters and another cousin to apartments located in Suva without the presence of Raikadroka and later moved to Nadi with only one of the sisters in November, 2012.
She said the girls were paying for their accommodation through sex work.
Upon cross-examination by State Lawyer Lisiate Fotofili the witness confirmed that the group including Raikadroka booked an apartment and stayed there for about two months.
Meanwhile, the counsels will present their closing submissions today.
