Fiji: Six held over schoolgirl’s rape

An investigation is underway following the alleged rape of a 16-year-old student in Fiji.

Six males have been detained. The youngest suspect is a Class 8 student while two are form five students. The others are men aged 35, 21 and 19 years.

The incident was reported to the Rakiraki Police Station by the victim’s mother.

The incident is alleged to have occurred on Monday night when the student was returning from her aunt’s place.

It is alleged that two of the suspects had forcefully taken her from near the village church and led her to a small shed at a sugar cane field where the other four suspects were waiting.

Following the alleged rape the victim informed her grandfather.

Police Spokesperson, Ana Naisoro said an attempt to seek forgiveness by the suspects through a presentation of yaqona was refused by the victim’s mother upon which a report was lodged at the Rakiraki Police Station.

Naisoro said this is a serious case and investigators are currently questioning the suspects.

She added that the continuous disregard for the respect for women and children will not be condoned and “those who think they can continue to carry out such acts of violation will face the full consequences of the law”.