Two Police Interviewing Officers in the case of the four men who allegedly raped their nephew in Tailevu, read out the Police statements of two accused persons where they had admitted having sex with the 13-year-old boy, and one had said that he was tempted by the devil.
Prosecution witness Detective Constable Emosi Nokonokovou of the Nausori Police Station said that the first accused in his interview had said that he had seen the boy go past his house and he was standing there for a while then entered his house.
Nokonokovou then said the first accused had said in the statement that he had sex with the boy in his kitchen.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer Nemani Tuifagalele had asked Nokonokovou if he had read the first accused his rights when he was arrested.
He said that he was supposed to have a lawyer, a social worker or a family member present with him.
Nokonokovou confirmed in court that he did not read the first accused his rights.
The next prosecution witness, Detective Constable Tom Matebula confirmed that he had interviewed the second accused.
He said the second accused had stated that he was married and had a 1-year 2-month-old baby girl.
Matebula said that the accused had accepted the allegations.
He told the court the second accused had said that he had sex with the 13-year-old boy.
Matebula said that during the interview the second accused had admitted that this was done on three occasions, one behind the accused person’s house and twice beside the pig pen near the mangrove swamp.
He said the second accused had told him he was tempted by the devil.
Matebula said the statement was read to the second accused, he had confirmed that it was correct and that he did not want to make any changes to it.
Meanwhile, High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo has decided that the four accused persons have a case to answer.
The four uncles will give sworn evidence in court today.
The alleged incidents occurred in Tailevu between November 2015 to March last year.
The four uncles have been charged with one count each of rape and all of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The first accused is 40-years-old, the second accused is 36, the third accused is 45 while the fourth accused is 42.
