5 Jan 2009

Seven men in Fiji charged with raping 14-year-old girl

2:01 pm on 5 January 2009

Seven men charged with raping a 14-year old girl in Fiji entered no plea when they appeared in the Labasa Magistrates court today.

The victim, from Bua, had spent Christmas at a relative's house in Dreketi when the alleged incident took place last week.

A police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri says the men, all in their twenties, have been remanded in custody until January the 19th.

"No plea was taken when they appeared before the magistrate. And the men all elected to be represented by the legal aid commission. The prosecution's suggested [to] the magistrate that the men be remanded for their own safety which the magistrate kindly obliged to."

Atunaisa Sokomuri says an eighth suspect remains at large.