Two witnesses in the rape trial of a former police officer Michael Shalendra Pratap have confirmed in court that Pratap was at work between 5 to 5.30pm on the day of the alleged incident.
It is alleged that Pratap raped a 17-year-old girl on the 22nd of January last year on two separate occasions between 5 to 5.30pm in Suva last year.
Pratap’s workmate and state witness Sunil Dutt told the court today that Pratap was still at work when he finished work at 4.40pm.
The fourth state witness, Kaliyova Nadonu who is Pratap’s family friend and had come from Ba to meet him in Suva that day, also told the court that Pratap had called him on his phone at around 5.45pm and told him that he is still at work.
The second state witness Teresia Vakanu told the court that the victim had told her that Michael had pulled her and tied her hands before raping her.
Vakanu who is a civilian staff at a medical clinic in Suva also told the court that upon asking, the girl told her that the Police officer had a green car.
Vakanu says the victim was also threatened by Michael who had told the girl that he will rape her again or do something bad to her if she reported the matter.
Vakanu told the court that all this information was relayed to her by the victim.
During cross examination, defense lawyer Mohammed Yunus asked Vakanu if the victim had mentioned Michael’s name.
Vakanu replied by saying that at first the victim mentioned the green car and later mentioned his name.
Pratap is charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
The trial continues today.
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