Victim tells of being drugged, raped

A21-year-old woman told the court yesterday of how she was drugged and raped by three men. The victim, in answering questions by State prosecutor Swastika Sharma, told the court that the three accused drugged her, which made her weak, then they performed sexual acts on her. As a state witness the victim testified at the High Court in Suva before Justice Vincent Perera.

The three accused are Semi Benjamin who is charged with three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault; Vero Vakariri who is charged with one count each of rape and sexual assault and Jope Vakaloloma; charged with sexual assault.

The alleged incident occurred on October 25, 2015. All three accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Benjamin is represented by Lavenia Davis, Vakariri and Vakaloloma are being represented by Karen Boseiwaqa. The State prosecutors are Shirley Tivau and Swastika Sharma.

State witness 1: The victim

Ms Tivau when giving an opening statement said: “Women should be allowed to walk on our streets with confidence and not in fear of being kidnapped.” Ms Sharma questioned the victim about the day of the incident and asked her what had happened. The victim relayed what she encountered when she returned home from a church service, how she was ordered by Benjamin who told her not to scream or he would stab her, got her in a taxi and than took her to a house in Nasole where his accomplices were. The victim alleged the three men smoked marijuana and forced her to smoke too. She said she followed their instructions, out of fear, felt dizzy and blacked out as her legs felt weak. The case continues today.