ラグビー元フィジー代表 性的暴行で禁錮２年１０月

【ロンドンＡＦＰ＝時事】ラグビーフィジー代表で、世界各国からの招待選手で構成されるバーバリアンズのメンバーに選ばれていたＬＯアピ・ラトゥニヤラワ（３７）被告が９日、性的暴行などの罪で禁錮２年１０月の有罪判決を受けた。（写真はウェールズとのラグビー国際親善試合に出場するフィジーのアピ・ラトゥニヤラワ＜中央＞）
　ラトゥニヤラワ被告は、英ウェールズ・カーディフでのバーバリアンズの試合を数日後に控えていた昨年１０月３１日から１１月２日にかけて、１０代の女性３人に暴行を加えた。裁判では２件の挿入による暴行、及び１件の性的暴行で有罪を認めていた。
　すべての事件は監視カメラで映像がとらえられており、ラトゥニヤラワ被告や全員１９歳の被害者はお互いに面識を持っていなかった。
　裁判が行われた英カーディフ刑事法院で影響報告書を読み上げた被害者の一人は、被告に人生を「台無し」にされたと述べている。
　イングランド・プレミアシップのノーサンプトン・セインツやフランス・トップ１４のアジャンでプレーしていたラトゥニヤラワ被告は、昨年６月には資格停止処分を受けたロンドン・アイリッシュから放出。バーバリアンズでの試合出場が新クラブとの契約につながることを期待していたが、事実上キャリアに終止符が打たれる判決となった。
　弁護人よるとラトゥニヤラワ被告は被害者への謝罪を望んでおり、「自分自身と家族にもたらした恥」を認識しているという。
　ラトゥニヤラワ被告はフィジー代表として３６キャップを獲得し、２０１５年のラグビーＷ杯イングランド大会、１９年の日本大会に出場した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/01/12-17:43）

Fiji rugby international Api Ratuniyarawa was jailed for nearly three years on Tuesday for sexually assaulting three teenagers in a bar days before he was due to play for the Barbarians in Cardiff last year.
Ratuniyarawa attacked the three young women in three consecutive nights at the same city centre establishment.
The 37-year-old admitted two counts of assault by penetration and one of sexual assault between October 31 and November 2, 2023.
He was sentenced by a judge at Cardiff Crown Court to two years and 10 months in jail. Two further charges of sexual assault relating to one of the three women were ordered to lie on file.
All incidents were caught on security cameras, and none of the victims, all of whom were aged 19, knew Ratuniyarawa or each other beforehand.
One of the women, who read out her impact statement in court, said Ratuniyarawa had ruined her life.
Ratuniyarawa was a forward for London Irish before the club filed for administration in June.
The lock, who has also played for Northampton Saints and with Agen in France, was hoping his appearance for the invitational side would lead to a contract with a new club.
Instead, the court heard that the assaults have effectively ended his career.
Ratuniyarawa's lawyer, Ruth Smith said her client wished to apologise to his victims and he recognised the shame that he has brought to himself and his family.
The Barbarians -- a team that brings together players from different clubs for several fixtures each year -- played against Wales on November 4 at the Principality Stadium.
Heath Edwards, prosecuting, said Ratuniyarawa had travelled to the Welsh capital the week before for training and media commitments but spent much of the week out socialising.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said Ratuniyarawa had caused both physical and mental trauma to his victims.
Passing sentence, she told the player: All the offences are aggravated because you were under the influence of alcohol and I bear in mind physical injury was caused as well as the psychological injury that was caused on all three occasions.
For all three offences I note you stopped only because others intervened.
On the other hand you are a man with no previous convictions and you are of positive good character and I accept that the remorse and shame you feel is genuine and I bear in mind the steps you have taken to address the cause of this behaviour.
Ratuniyarawa was capped 36 times by Fiji and represented his nation at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups.