Alleged Motel Rape Victim Cross-Examined By Defence
It is alleged that on March 17, 2019, at around 1pm the complainant delivered food for her employer’s two sons who were detained at the Immigration Safe House at Votualevu, Nadi. While at the Safe House, Sen arrived and allegedly threatened the victim then he allegedly took her to a motel where the alleged incident took place.
Friday 08 April 2022 | 14:03
A 24-year-old woman took the stand again on Wednesday at the High Court in Lautoka to be cross-examined by the defence regarding her being allegedly threatened and alleged rape in a motel in 2019.
The accused, Praneel Prakash Sen, an Immigration Officer at the time of the offence, appeared before Justice Riyaz Hamza.
He was represented by Jitendra Reddy while Simione Seruivatu appeared for the prosecution.
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It is alleged that on March 17, 2019, at around 1pm the complainant delivered food for her employer’s two sons who were detained at the Immigration Safe House at Votualevu, Nadi.
While at the Safe House, Sen arrived and allegedly threatened the victim then he allegedly took her to a motel where the alleged incident took place.
Cross-examination
Mr Reddy asked the complainant to tell the court the entire conversation between her and Sen at the Safe House.
The complainant said the accused got off the grey taxi and in a rude manner asked her “who the hell told you to come here, you know you can be charged with trespass and three to five cases”.
Mr Reddy asked the complainant if it was correct that the taxi driver told her to get off at Votualevu because he had to pick up someone. The complaint disagreed.
Regarding the contents of her Police statement recorded on March 18, 2019, the complainant said she approved it because the Police Officer told her only bullet points were needed.
Mr Reddy asked the complainant if she would agree there were omissions in her Police statement and she agreed there were.
Mr Reddy asked the complainant if she had a conversation with the motel receptionist and asked where Sen was. The complainant agreed that she did, but could not recall what she said.
Mr Reddy asked the complainant if the receptionist directed her to where Sen’s room was and she told the court the receptionist only told her Sen’s room number.
Mr Reddy asked the complainant why she told Police in her statement that Sen came out of a room that had no number and the complainant said she could not recall what she told the Police, but she remembered where Sen’s room was located.
The complainant said Sen’s vocal tone was friendly when outside the room, but changed when she went inside as he was threatening her.
Mr Reddy told the complainant she earlier stated that after Sen took a shower at the motel, he pushed her onto the bed and committed the alleged offence.
The complainant told the court that the alleged offence took place after Sen threatened her.
Justice Hamza adjourned the trial to yesterday for further cross-examination.
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