‘Sex cut short when brother arrives’

The complainant in a rape case against Navua businessman Govind Sami testified yesterday that she was having sex with the accused after lunch on October 25, 2016 when her 11-yearold brother returned home on horseback.

The 27-year-old woman told Suva High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo that when she saw her brother approaching the gate she quickly put on her clothes and crawled out of the bedroom to hide from him. Defence lawyer Avinesh Reddy asked her why she hid from her brother instead of telling him about the alleged rape.

She said she did not want her brother to see what she was doing. The complainant said she crawled out of the bedroom and did not walk out as normal because she was ashamed that her brother would see her having sex with the accused.

She later testified that after the incident she was at home with her brother all day until her husband returned home at night. Justice Temo questioned the witness if she had told her husband about the alleged incident when he returned home. She said she did not tell her husband.

Mr Reddy then put to her that on that same evening the accused, together with the complainant and her husband sat and drank yaqona together. She denied this saying they did not sit together. When further put to her the woman also denied that later on in the evening she continued drinking yaqona while her husband and the accused started drinking beer. The trial continues in the High Court today with State lawyer Lavenia Bogitini appearing for the Prosecution. The accused is on bail.