Govind Sami Raju who is charged with a count each of indecent assault and rape was granted bail by the Suva High Court yesterday.

Raju, 86, is alleged to have raped and indecently assaulted an 11-year-old girl.

Count one is indecent assault and it allegedly took place on April 19 and the second count is rape which is alleged to have taken place between May 1 and May 28, 2016.

Raju appeared before Justice Salesi Temo.

Defence lawyer Samanunu Vaniqi asked the court to grant her client bail as he is an 86-year-old man who has been in remand for a month.

Ms Vaniqi further told the court that according to the medical examination performed on the victim on May 27 the medical report states that her hymen is still intact.

She argued that the medical report’s examination does not support the complainant’s complaint.

State lawyer told the court that the charges on the accused were serious and that the state has strong evidence against him.

As a bail condition Justice Temo told the accused not to leave the country.

The court has been adjourned to August 29 for pre-trial conference and to set a trial date.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce