Eighty per cent of victims of sexual offences cases filed in the high courts of Fiji last month were children under 18 years, according to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions.
Of the 10 victims (eight female and two male), eight were under the age of 18 years. Among the eight underage victims, five are related to the perpetrators including a 5-year-old girl. Youngest of the 10 victims, the preschooler was raped by his 28-year-old uncle.
In another incident, a 20-year-old man was charged with the rape of his 10-year-old male cousin. The 10-year-old was one of two male victims recorded for September – the other being a 14-year-old who was allegedly raped and sexually assaulted by a 25-year-old man. There was another incident involving a 20-year-old man who allegedly raped his 17-year-old cousin four times and faces additional charges including one count of attempted rape, two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.
Two cases were discontinued after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed due to insufficient evidence and the victim could not be contacted or located.
