A Fijian man, former army officer in New Zealand has been sentenced to four years in jail after raping a sex worker in Wellington.
Savenaca Seruvatu was convicted of sexual violation by rape in the Wellington District Court in February, after removing a condom without consent during sexual intercourse with a sex worker in an adult entertainment club in Lower Hutt in September 2020.
Seruvatu appeared in person at the Wellington District Court back in February, where Judge Ian Mill recollected the facts that led to the conviction.
“Mr Seruvatu made a booking at TK’s Parlour in Lower Hutt on 22 September 2020 to engage the services of a sex worker,” he said.
[He made enquiries about having sex without a condom and we heard evidence both from the receptionist and also from [the victim] about that.”
Judg0e Mill said Seruvatu offered the victim – a Wellington resident – $200 and a food grant to have sex without protection.
“Which she declined and explained to [Mr Seruvatu] that there could not be penetrative sex without a condom, and, in fact, it is illegal for her to do so.”
The victim – who RNZ is calling Holly – said on trial that, during the sexual act, she “became aware that something was not right”.
“She put a hand down and felt the condom had been removed,” the judge said.
“Then she tensed herself and told [Seruvatu] several times to stop, but [he] continued to penetrate her for several minutes.”
In his defence during trial, Seruvatu said the condom must have come off accidentally.
However, the jury did not accept that, with Holly later finding the condom under the pillow on the bed where they had been having sex.
Judge Mill said the Court of Appeal referred to what had happened as a “deliberate, even cynical, breach of the parties’ understanding of the basis on which consent was given”.
“So, there was a certain amount of premeditation in that case and in this case, Mr Seruvatu. You made enquiries. You were several times told what the rules were.
“You tried to offer incentives and, therefore, you were wanting to have unprotected sex, and, in the end, you decided to go ahead with that. So, there was some planning and premeditation,” the judge said in court.
The judge said the impact on the victim was very significant and debilitating for her.
