The Suva High Court has refused to release a 43-year old man on bail who allegedly raped his 13-year-old stepdaughter in Suva.
The man is facing 5 counts of rape.
The alleged incidents happened between 2014 and 2020.
High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar says the allegations are serious and it arose in a domestic context.
The court was also told that there is a statement from the complainant that when she reported the incident to her mother, she covered up the allegations to protect her partner instead of her daughter.
It was also heard in court that eventually when the matter was reported to police, the complainant's mother disowned her daughter and chose to support her partner.
The man has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The matter has been adjourned to the 11th of December.
