A man accused of raping his 10-month-old niece appeared in the Orkney Magistrate's Court on Thursday, North West police said.
The case was postponed to January 18 when the 43-year-old man was expected to bring a bail application, said Captain Pelonomi Makau.
He said the baby's mother left the infant with her cousin when she went to work on Tuesday.
The man took the baby for a walk, but when he returned an hour later she was crying hysterically.
When the cousin changed the infant's nappy she saw marks on her private parts, and thought she had nappy rash. That night, the child's mother also saw the marks while bathing her.
"The mother took her to a clinic, where the doctor confirmed rape," said Makau.
The matter was reported to the police and they arrested the child's uncle, who had since also been accused of previously raping a family member, he said.
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