13 CHARGED WITH 19 SEPARATE INCIDENTS

DATA CONFINED TO INCIDENTS OF SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENCES ONLY Rape and sexual offences statistics – June 2017

The following data is authorised for release by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and relates to the number of formal indictments (Information) filed in the High Courts of Fiji by the Director of Public Prosecutions throughout the month. There were 13 people charged with a total of 19 separate incidents in June. The offences were rape (12), attempted rape (1) and sexual assault (6).

There were 10 victims of the 19 separate incidents of whom eight (8) victims were under the age of 18 years. There were three (3) accused persons under the age of 18 years. Of these three (3), one of the accused is alleged to have raped his nine-year-old cousin.

There were six (6) incidents where the accused and the victims were related to each other.

Of these six (6), there was one serious incident where a 59-year-old grandfather is alleged to have raped his two-year-old granddaughter. There was another serious incident where a 62-year-old grandfather was alleged to have raped his four-yearold granddaughter; however, this matter was withdrawn due to inadequate Police investigation and a false accusation by the mother of the victim. The accused in this matter was a diabetic and had been in remand since August 2016. Further investigations have been ordered. There was one (1) serious incident of alleged gang rape. This matter was also withdrawn after the victim admitted to making a false claim. There was one (1) serious incident where both the accused and the victim were employees of a resort. Three (3) cases were withdrawn after discontinuances (Nolle Prosequi) were filed. Of these three (3), two (2) cases were withdrawn due to false complaints. Refer to the table entitled ODPP Rape and Sexual Offences Statistics June 2017 for a break-down of these statistics.