Man charged with a count each of rape and assault with intent to commit rape found guilty of charges

A man who was charged with one count of rape and one count of assault with intent to commit rape has been found guilty of the charges by Suva High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge.

The incidents happened on the 1st of January this year in Tailevu.

While giving his judgment, Justice Aluthge says on the day of the incident, the 18-year-old complainant was washing some kitchen utensils beside her father’s house when the accused who is her cousin approached her. The judge says the man wanted to pour water on the complainant.

Justice Aluthge says the man then pulled her from her t-shirt to the nearby bush and raped her.

He says that the complainant tried to scream but the accused had closed her mouth adding the complainant could also smell homebrew on the mouth of the accused.

He will be sentenced on Monday.