The High Court in Suva found a man guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of rape against his stepdaughter last Thursday.
The matter was called before High Court judge Justice Daniel Goundar.
The court was told the man was in a defacto relationship with the complainant’s mother and that they lived in Samabula, where the alleged incidents took place between February, 2016 and March, 2018, when the complainant’s mother was away from home.
In his judgment, Justice Goundar said the complainant did not tell anyone about the incidents because she feared her mother would not believe her and the accused threatened to say that she seduced him and that there was medical evidence that was consistent with sexual intercourse but did not implicate the accused.
Justice Goundar also said the defence case was that the allegations of sexual assault and rape were fabricated because the accused was strict on the complainant in terms of her upbringing while under his roof.
“Her reason for not raising alarm is reasonable,” he said.
“She was a child and the accused was an authoritative figure over her, she genuinely feared the repercussions of complaining. “On both counts, I feel sure of the accused’s guilt, accordingly he is convicted of both charges.”
