A RAIWAQA resident accused of raping his four-year-old granddaughter has been acquitted by the High Court in Suva after the prosecution failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt.
The State alleged that between December 1 and December 9, 2025, the man raped the child.
In a judgment delivered on July 28, Justice Daniel Goundar found the complainant’s evidence was inconsistent and unreliable on the central issue of whether any unlawful sexual act occurred.
The court noted the child initially described inappropriate touching, but later, when asked directly during re-examination, denied that her grandfather had touched her. The judge also considered evidence from a neighbour who testified that the child had said she had been told by her mother to make the allegation.
Justice Goundar found the medical evidence was inconclusive, with the examining doctor stating the redness observed could have been caused by irritation or infection and did not establish penetration.
The judge ruled that the prosecution had also failed to prove the lesser offence of sexual assault beyond reasonable doubt.
