A police officer accused of sexually violating his cousin, who was 13 at the time the abuse allegedly began, remains on bail pending judgment in the High Court in Suva.
The 40-year-old man, who is married with three children, was scheduled to receive Justice Dane Tuiqereqere’s verdict; however, the delivery has been deferred to tomorrow.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the officer began sexually assaulting the child multiple times in 2019. He is further alleged to have raped her on four occasions in 2021 and defiled her between 2022 and 2024.
While the State maintains that it has presented sufficient evidence to secure a conviction, the defence submits that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
