Former police officer denies sex charges

A FORMER senior police officer appeared at the High Court in Lautoka last Tuesday charged with one count each of indecent assault, attempted rape, and rape.

It is alleged that the officer committed the offences when he had offered to take a 39-year-old female officer to her home after a drinking party in 2017.

The officer has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

State lawyer Saini Naibe said the State needed to prove certain elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt.

For the first count, she said, the State was alleging the officer had unlawfully and indecently assaulted the complainant by kissing her on the lips.

“As for the second count the State was alleging that the accused had attempted to penetrate the vagina of the complainant with his penis without her consent,” Ms Naibe said.

“As for the third count, which is rape, the State needed to prove that the accused had penetrated the mouth of the complainant with his penis without her consent.”

Two witnesses — the complainant and her husband — will appear for the State

She said the defence was at liberty to cross examine the statement by the complainant and her husband’s testimony.

In his defence, he officer’s lawyer Shivendra Nath said the young complaint had made up the allegations because his client was on the verge of retirement.

Mr Nath said the complainant was thinking of being indicted as well.

He argued the complainant was working in the Sexual Offence Department at the Tavua Police Station and could have reported the matter to the officer-incharge of the station rather than doing so in 2019, two years after the alleged incident.

The complainant told the court she was fearful of reporting the incident because of possible sacking as she was the only breadwinner in the family at that time.

As for the second case, the State was alleging that the accused had attempted to penetrate the vagina

– Saini Naibe