Pastor Pleads Not Guilty To Rape Charges

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions yester­day has filed a nolle prosequi (a formal notice to discontinue or dismiss legal proceedings) against a senior Church member who was facing rape charges.

The church member’s co-accused, Pastor Waisake Tulavu has pleaded not guilty to the charge at the High Court in Suva.

ODPP lawyer Swastika Sharma filed the nolle prosequi for Saki­usa Nakutoro before Justice Daniel Goundar.

Justice Goundar had formally dis­charged Nakutoro and dismissed all proceedings against him.

Meanwhile, Tulavu, who is also facing multiple counts of rape of­fences, has pleaded not guilty in two out of three charges.

The alleged offences took place between May 11, 2018 and June 16, 2018, at Cunningham in Nasinu.

Ms Sharma told the court that the State will be filing consolidated in­formation on all three files.

She also sought for seven days to confirm on the State’s stand on the third file of charges against Tulavu.

Defence lawyer Tobia Ravuniwa made an application to the court to seek an order for Tulavu to be medi­cally examined and treated at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital as he was urinating blood.

Justice Goundar asked defence lawyer if she had the medical re­port of the medical doctor from the Remand Centre to which he re­sponded no.

Justice Goundar said he needed evidence of Tulavu’s condition in order to make an order for the ac­cused to be taken to the CWM Hos­pital for treatment.

The case was adjourned to May 6 for mention.

Tulavu was further remanded in custody.

Edited by Susana Tuilau