A pastor who allegedly raped and assaulted a 15-year-old girl told the High Court in Suva police told him they had to charge him because of pressure from the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and the Office of the Prime Minister.
Ravinesh Chand made these claims to judge Justice Daniel Goundar during trial.
Mr Chand told the court on March 21, 2020, he had picked the teenager from her home because church members wanted to celebrate her birthday.
He said he had invited her mother to accompany them to the cake shop, however, she declined and told him to drop her daughter at the Sawani church.
He said he gave the young girl $40 to buy a cake from a shop in Nausori and later dropped her at the Sawani church in Nausori.
Mr Chand said he was surprised when police officers showed up at his residence on March 23, 2020 saying there was a serious allegation of rape against him.
When asked why the teenager would lie, he told the court her mother previously complained that the teenager was with a boy and had love bites, and he and other church members had counselled her.
He said the complainant would have had a grudge against him because he advised her mother to take away her mobile phone and always accompany her whenever she went to town.
Meanwhile, Forensic Biology and DNA Lab senior scientific officer Naomi Tuitoga told the court that a forensic report compiled on October 22, 2020 showed there was no foreign DNA present on the oral swabs and clothing exhibits of the victim apart from her own.
She said they could not detect any foreign DNA after 92 hours if the victim had taken a shower.
Mr Chand is charged with one count of sexual assault and three counts of rape.
The matter has been adjourned to today for closing submissions.
