Former police officer Michael Shalendra Pratap has been found guilty of 3 counts of rape and 1 count of sexual assault by High Court Judge Justice Vincent Parera.
While delivering his judgement in the last hour, Justice Parera said that Pratap grabbed the victim outside the gym in Nasova, took her inside and kept her for 1 hour.
The judge said that the victim had recognized the accused during the case and Justice Parera said that this is a case of recognition.
He also highlighted that the accused has also admitted that he had a green car which was part of the victim’s evidence.
Justice Parera says the alibi witnesses in the case were unreliable while the complainant is not an unreliable witness.
He says Pratap knew that the victim was not consenting and each rape count has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
The three assessors had found Pratap guilty of three counts of rape last week.
Pratap raped a 17‑year‑old girl between 5pm to 5.30pm on 22nd January in Suva last year.
He has been remanded in custody.
The sentencing submissions will take place at 2.30pm today.
