Updated: 10:19am – Inconsistent evidence by the complainant has seen the High Court acquit a Suva mechanic of a sexual assault charged.
Judge Justice Vincent Perera concurred with the assessors’ unanimous not guilty verdict and discharged Ravindra Deo accordingly.
Deo was charged with one count of sexual assault where he was alleged to have unlawfully and indecently assaulted the 23-year-old complainant on September 26, 2011.
The complainant was 16-years-old at the time.
In his judgment, Justice Perera said the complainant was unco-operative and did not establish the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
While summing up the case to the assessors, Justice Perera highlighted Deo’s evidence who said that he was at work on the day of the alleged incident and never called the complainant on her phone.
Deo said he got home from work at around 6pm and was surprised to see the complainant who said she wanted to stay with him.
He said they both embraced each other because they were happy to see each other.
Deo said in evidence that he had known the complainant for about six months and they were in love adding that at times they would discuss about their marriage plans.
He said when the complainant was at his house that day she told him that it was not the right time for intimacy and that they should wait until after her exams.
He said he agreed with the complainant and never tried anything further.
Later that night, they both had their shower and the accused cooked dinner for them while they spoke about their marriage.
He said they slept together on his bed that night and woke up at 6:30am the next day.
On their way out of the house, the complainant’s father was standing outside the house and immediately took the complainant to the Police Station and told her to report everything that had happened.
Deo was represented by Suva lawyer Jitendra Reddy while State lawyer Swastika Sharma appeared for the prosecution.
-Fiji Sun
Featured image: Ravindra Deo (wearing blue) outside the High Court in Suva on February 2, 2018. Photo: Fonua Talei
