A 17-year-old boy who allegedly raped his 27-year-old special needs cousin was among 12 people charged with rape and sexual offences last month.
According to stats released by Fiji’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the teenager is the youngest of the alleged perpetrators, with the oldest aged 75 years charged with the rape and assault of his 12-year-old grandniece.
The 12-year-old is among seven of 13 victims under the age of 18.
Another 12-year-old girl was reported to have been indecently and sexually assaulted by her 30-year-old stepfather. A third 12-year-old girl and her 10-year-old female relative were allegedly raped and sexually assaulted by their 64-year-old uncle.
A 23-year-old man was charged with the rape of his 14-year-old cousin while a case involving a 9-year-old who was reported to have been raped and sexually assaulted by a 35-year-old man was discontinued after the victim returned to her country and could not be contacted.
In the sixth case involving a child, a 33-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of his 11-year-old step-niece.
The other cases filed in the high courts of Fiji include one of marital rape, involving a 44-year-old man charged with the rape of his 33-year-old wife.
A 20-year-old man was charged with the rape of an 18-year-old woman from his village. A 19-year-old man was charged with the rape and sexual assault of an 18-year-old woman from his village.
There was one incident where a 36-year-old man was charged with the rape of a 29-year-old woman. The accused allegedly attacked the victim in a washroom.
Another case involving a 22-year-old man charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 40-year-old woman was discontinued after the death of the victim.
