Court

Alleged child trafficker takes stand

December 3, 2019 12:43 pm

The 38-year-old man alleged to have forced minors into prostitution took stand in the Suva High Court today.

The 38-year-old man alleged to have forced minors into prostitution took stand in the Suva High Court today.

Josevata Werelagi is charged with one count of aggravated sexual servitude and three counts of domestic trafficking of children.

It is alleged that between the 18th to the 22nd of July 2015, Werelagi forced a 15-year-old girl to enter into or remain in sexual servitude.

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Werelagi told the Court he first met the girl in Nausori and later saw her standing at a Rewa Street bus stop.

He says he visited friends and after some hours again saw the girl still standing at the bus stop and an orange taxi making rounds.

He told the Court that later he went to the Hot Bread Kitchen in Samabula and realized that the same girl was following him.

Werelagi said she then accompanied him to Waila, Nausori.

He testified she told him that she was pregnant and didn’t want her family to know.

The trial continues.