Saimoni Narawa fronts court over rape of a woman in Latrobe Valley

An drunken abattoir worker in the Latrobe Valley raped a woman after she allowed him to sleep in the same room on a separate mattress.

A drunk Saimoni Narawa forced himself on a woman despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.

A drunk abattoir worker’s claims that a woman he raped had consented were rejected as he was jailed for almost six years for his vile offending.

Saimoni Narawa pleaded guilty raping the woman in a Latrobe Valley accommodation in September 2022 and was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to five years and 10 months imprisonment.

The 45-year-old father-of-four from Fiji arrived in Victoria in April 2022 on a working visa and committed the offence five months later.

Judge Kevin Doyle said a drinking mate of Narawa’s described him as “clearly drunk” before the rape which took place in the early hours of the morning.

Narawa entered the room the victim was sleeping in and after being allowed to sleep next to her in a separate mattress, he started pushing his body against her which made her feel awkward.

Saimoni Narawa raped a woman in the Latrobe Valley.

She told him to stop but he said “It’s OK, I won’t do anything to you”. She tried to roll away from her but he pushed against her, cuddling her from behind. Narawa started touching her face and rolled her onto her back and started kissing her face and mouth.

Judge Doyle said Narawa then lifted her pyjama top and started touching her breasts despite the victim repeatedly telling him to stop.

Narawa put his hand over her mouth to prevent her calling out for help and raped her while she was in pain, crying and shaking.

She told her GP in Moe a few days later about what had happened police were informed.

Judge Doyle said the victim feels ashamed and thinks she’s brought shame to the family.

He said the duration of the offence was not of great significance in assessing the gravity of the offence and that the absence of threats and violence and him being affected by alcohol were not mitigating factors.

“She was sleeping in her bed and was entitled to be safe and you took advantage of her for sexual gratification,” Judge Doyle said.

Narawa will be eligible for parole after serving three years and eight months.