Valesasa pleads not guilty to rape

A 41-year-old man charged with rape has pleaded not guilty at the Suva High Court yesterday.

Saimoni Valesasa appeared before Judge Justice Riyaaz Hamza and has further remanded in custody.

It is alleged that on May 13, this year, Valesasa raped a 3-year-old girl at Lami. Defence counsel Talei Kean has sought 14 days to respond to the proposed agreed facts. The case has been adjourned to October 11, for mention.