A 22-year-old man was ordered by Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili to return to his village and wait for the next court sitting on the island.

The accused appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one count of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

It is alleged that on January 10 this year the accused indecently and unlawfully assaulted the 31-year-old down-syndrome victim by touching her indecently while she was sleeping in her uncle’s house.

Police prosecutor Corporal Caroline Fisher informed Chief Magistrate Ratuvili that the victim was residing in Viti Levu. She asked the court to send the accused back to where he permanently resides.

Corporal Fisher said the victim had gone to the island with her mother for holiday when the alleged incident happened.

The accused was released on a $500 bail into the brother-in-law’s custody and was ordered to board the next boat to the island.

Chief Magistrate Ratuvili also ordered the accused to report to the island’s Police Station every Saturday after January 23.

The accused was told not to leave the village and to wait for his court summons when the next court sitting would be on the island.

He was also advised to apply to the Legal Aid Commission before returning to the village.

Corporal Fisher also made an application for an interim Domestic Violence Restraining Order to be imposed with non-molestation conditions as the accused and the victim were related.

Edited by Percy Kean

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