In November, 23 people were charged with sexual offences including a 13-year-old girl who was alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted a female relative, aged nine.
The incident was one of 12 cases, perpetrated by family members against their own, that was filed in the high courts of Fiji by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Fiji (ODPP Fiji).
Two men in their late 40s were charged with the rape of their respective daughters on two separate occasions, and two other men, around the same age, were charged with the rape and sexual assault of their nieces. Two men in their early 20s were also charged – one with five counts of rape and two counts of sexual assault of his 14-year-old stepsister and the other, aged 22, charged with the rape of his 11-year-old cousin.
Three cases of marital rape were also filed.
Other cases reported the same month include the defilement of a 16-year-old girl by her father’s friend, a 13-year-old girl who was alleged to have been raped by a 31-year-old man on her way to school, an 18-year-old tourist who was allegedly raped by 30-year-old tourist worker and a 64-year-old man charged with three counts of indecent assault of two teenage girls, aged 13 and 14.
In another incident, a 45-year-old man was charged with the rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman, however, the matter was discontinued due to insufficient evidence. Four cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed due to a false complaint, unreliable and insufficient evidence.
