A Taupō businessman accused of raping a woman and trying to bribe her to withdraw her police complaint appeared in Rotorua District Court today. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A Taupō businessman accused of raping a woman and trying to bribe her to withdraw her police complaint appeared in Rotorua District Court today. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A Taupō businessman accused of raping a woman and trying to bribe her to withdraw her police complaint will keep his identity secret until at least February.
The man, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the Rotorua District Court today before Judge Anna Skellern.
He has pleaded notguilty to three charges, including two counts of sexual violation on November 30 last year at Rotorua.
One charge alleges he raped a female aged over 16 and the other is for unlawful sexual connection.
Name suppression for those co-accused previously lapsed. They are Lidhim Nedumbakkaran Loju, 24, a driver from Taupō and Ibrahim Ahmed Mohammed, 33, from Stratford.
Mohammed faces additional charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and failing to answer district court bail.
Ibrahim Mohammed appears in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Kelly Makiha
Lidhim Nedumbakkaran Loju appears in the Rotorua District Court. Photo / Kelly Makiha
The trio allegedly “attempted to dissuade [the complainant] by bribes or corrupt means, namely paying her money to withdraw her police complaint of sexual violation”, according to the charging document.
Rachel Raukawa, who represented the Taupō businessman, asked for interim name suppression to remain until February 13, when all pre-trial matters would be dealt with.
Judge Skellern granted her request.
The businessman previously elected a trial by jury.
Mohammed and Loju have pleaded not guilty and are set to reappear for a pre-trial hearing on February 13.
The businessman and Loju have been remanded on bail and Mohammed was remanded in custody.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
