Charges of rape cleared, could be laid at later date

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A Fijian national charged with abducting and raping a woman has been cleared of the charges — for now.

Solomoni Rasari appeared briefly in Gisborne District Court yesterday accompanied by three supporters and assisted by a court-appointed interpreter.

Judge Stephen O’Driscoll granted a Crown application for the charges against Rasari to be withdrawn but not dismissed.

This means the charges could potentially be re-laid at a later time.

The court was told a co-accused is waiting for a trial on the same charges.

Counsel Manaaki Terekia said Rasari’s passport was seized when the charges were laid and he now wanted it quickly returned.

There was no discussion as to whether extradition would be an option if necessary in the future.