18-year-old fronts court on rape charge
An 18-year-old man appeared in the High Court in Suva yesterday charged with one count of rape.
It is alleged that on December 14 last year, the accused Josua Bueta had unlawful carnal knowledge of the 24-year-old female complainant without her consent.
The alleged incident happened in Lami.
State lawyer Swastika Sharma confirmed to Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe that Bueta was not related to the complainant.
Legal Aid lawyer Talei Kean appeared for the accused and informed the court that she would be filing a proper bail application.
Ms Sharma said the State would be objecting to the accused’s bail as investigations were continuing and there were two other suspects who were yet to be apprehended by Police.
Justice Thushara further remanded the teenager into custody and adjourned the case to January 26 for the State to file information and disclosures.
Edited by Rusiate Mataika
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