Ex-teacher found guilty of rape and sexual assault

Justice Temo commented that it was a case that every parent in Fiji feared

A35-year-old former primary school teacher was found guilty in the High Court in Suva yesterday and convicted for raping and sexually assaulting nine female students.

All three assessors in the accused's trial found him guilty on all 13 counts. Judge Justice Salesi Temo concurred with the opinion of the three assessors.

While delivering his judgment, Justice Temo said the assessors' opinion was not perverse and it was open to them to reach such a decision.

He found that the evidence given by the student complainants' were credible and forthright.

He also rejected the accused's reasons when he chose to give evidence in court. The accused in his evidence said that the case was brought against him after another former teacher influenced the students to testify against him.

He said this was due to competition between them.

State prosecutor Kimberley Semisi stated in her sentence submissions that the accused had breached the student's trust when he committed the offence.

Ms Semisi also highlighted the age disparity between the accused and the nine complainants' and the fact that he took advantage of their vulnerability, naivety and young age.

His actions had demonstrated a complete disregard to the victim's rights.

Further the state requested for a sentence on the higher end of the tariff and asked for a prison term between 14 to 16-years. Justice Temo commented that the case was one that every parent in Fiji feared.

He said it was the last thing that parents would expect when sending their daughters to school, adding that even though the accused was a model teacher, there was a different side to him that parents feared.

'It was the last thing that parents would expect when sending their daughters to school.'

Defence lawyer Aman Ravindra-Singh said the accused was an exemplary teacher held in high regard and they did not wish to mask what he did. However there was a chance of rehabilitation and if the accused could be given a jail term between 10 to 12-years.

He also submitted that the accused was married with a seven-year-old daughter. The accused was remanded in custody pending his sentencing today.