State v Chand [2020] FJHC 1087; HAC123.2019 (15 December 2020)

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI

AT SUVA

[CRIMINAL JURISDICTION]

CRIMINAL CASE NO. 123 OF 2019

STATE

V

RAVINESH CHAND

Counsel: Ms S Sharma for the State

Mr I Khan for the Accused

Date of Hearing: 7, 9 – 10, 14 - 15 December 2020

Date of Summing Up : 15 December 2020

Date of Judgment: 15 December 2020

JUDGMENT

	Count 1 [Sexual Assault]	Count 2 Rape	Count 3 Rape	Count 4 Rape
Assessor 1	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty
Assessor 2	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty
Assessor 3	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty	Guilty

[1]

[2] The assessors have expressed unanimous opinion of guilty on all 4 counts. They have believed the evidence of the complainant is true. I have no reasons to disagree with the assessors’ unanimous opinion.

[3] The complainant struck me as an honest and reliable witness, I believe her account on all four counts as true.

[4] I direct myself with accordance with my summing up, I find the Accused guilty on all four counts.

[5] The Accused is convicted as charged.

. ...........................................
Hon. Mr Justice Daniel Goundar

Solicitors:
Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the State
Iqbal Khan & Associates for the Accused