2 Former Cops, Soldier’s Rape And Sexual Assault Conviction Quashed

Two ex-police officers and an ex-military pesonnel’s convictions have been quashed by the Supreme Court of Fiji.

The ex-police officers are Viliame Vereivalu and Jona Davonu and Pita Matairavula is a soldier.

They were convicted and sentenced for rape and sexual assault to nine years imprisonment on a non-parole period of six years each in November 2016.

The Coram of Judges inclusive of Justice Anthony Gates, Justice Brian Keith, and Justice Priyasath Dep ordered that the leave to the petitioners (Vereivalu, Davonu and Matairavula) to appeal be allowed.

The Coram quashed their convictions and said there would be no order for a retrial.

Background

In August 2015, a spate of robberies had occurred and the Police responded with immediacy and commitment.

There had been an armed robbery in Nadi upon a money exchange outlet.

Two suspects were discovered travelling in a minibus to Suva which stopped temporarily at Tagaqe. They were arrested and taken to Malevu Hill, an isolated area off the Queens Highway not far from Tagaqe.

Nearly 30 Police officers came to the said place and there was a large contingent of officers from the Western Division. A smaller group, the Suva Strike Back Team, also came.

The improprieties, the Police brutalities, were inflicted on the two suspects at Malevu Hill.

Charges of rape and sexual assault were laid against the petitioners along with six others. They were all convicted by the High Court in Lautoka and two team leaders were also charged and convicted for defeating the course of justice.

The two suspects who were the victims of the brutality were injured. They had endured prolonged punching, beating, kicking, and finally the pain and indignity of anal penetration with chilies and with a stick.

Story by: ashna.kumar@fijisun.com.fj