A 25-year-old man accused of injuring and sexually assaulting his special-needs 3-year-old stepdaughter has been charged by police.

The incident happened late last year in Navua.

Police said the man allegedly slapped the child, burnt her legs with Fijian tobacco, and sexually assaulted her when she refused to eat.

A relative who noticed the bruises and burnt marks on the victim reported the matter to police. The child has since been removed from her mother’s custody and handed over to the care of a relative.

The accused is facing one count of Rape and one count of Unlawful Wounding and will be produced at the Navua Magistrates Court today.