Parents told me to keep my distance from him: Girl, 18
Acomplainant in a rape trial told the High Court in Suva yesterday that her parents had warned her to stay away from the 34-year-old accused because he was married with two children.
The 18-year-old girl gave evidence before Justice Salesi Temo of what allegedly transpired on September 13, 2016, when she was allegedly raped in a taxi.
The alleged incident happened at the Apted Park car park in Suva Point. On that day the victim told the court that she was at their family BBQ stall when the accused, Rajinesh Kamal Narayan, called her and told her to meet him at the Flagstaff bowser. The complainant said she considered Narayan as a brother before they became friends. When she got to the bowser Narayan asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend. They then proceeded in his taxi to her home. The young woman said she told the accused for them to remain friends for the time being.
State prosecutor Lavenia Bogitini asked the young woman what she did when she found out Narayan had a family.
She responded that she told him that she would not meet him again because she did not want to break up his family.
The court heard that Narayan told the young woman that she was not breaking his family’s relationship, rather she was building it. While on their way to drop her home, the accused received a call from a lady who requested him to pick her from Eight Miles, Nasinu and drop her at Sakoca, in Tacirua Heights.
The accused asked her if they could pick and drop the woman first before he dropped her home.
She said she agreed because she did not have any money to go home.
After dropping the lady, the accused then took her to Suva Point where he parked his taxi, locked all the doors and sat in the back seat with her, she said. He then kissed her on her lips, cheeks and when he started kissing her neck she pushed him away and told him not to do it because he had a family and because she was still young.
The accused then pushed her against the seat, held her hands back lifted her legs and allegedly raped her. She told the court that she saw blood.
She then told the accused not to do it because it was not right.
The trial continues in the High Court today. Lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa is representing the accused.