A POLICE unit commander has been cleared by the High Court in Ba of five charges of rape involving his wife’s cousin, which were alleged to have occurred between 2011 and 2019, beginning when she was nine years old.
Justice Samuela Qica ruled that while convictions can rest on uncorroborated testimony, the prosecution’s case was undermined by a lengthy reporting delay, a lack of medical or forensic evidence, and generalised assertions.
Two additional counts of assault with intent to commit rape and attempted rape were dismissed earlier in the trial.
The court highlighted inconsistencies in the threat timeline, noting the officer’s 2012 transfer to Ba removed his daily proximity.
Finding reasonable doubt, Justice Qica acquitted the officer on all remaining counts and ordered him set free forthwith.
