A 44-year-old subsistence farmer has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for sexually assaulting and raping his teenage daughter. The case was heard in the High Court in Suva, where it was disclosed that the victim was the defendant’s eldest daughter, living with him, her mother, and five siblings.
The abuse began in December 2017 when the victim, then 15 years old, was left home alone with her father. In early 2018, when she was around 16, her father awoke her by touching her inappropriately, prompting her to kick him away.
After one incident of sexual assault, the girl’s mother questioned her about any misconduct by her father. Upon learning the truth, the mother was devastated. She confronted the father, and discussions about the assaults were held with the defendant’s mother. Despite the father’s apologies and promises to stop the abuse, the sexual assaults resumed in 2020.
The victim endured multiple assaults, including instances of digital rape, until 2020. A medical examination conducted on February 13, 2021, revealed that her hymen was not intact, indicating blunt force trauma consistent with sexual abuse.
Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu described the father’s actions as “an incestuous and heinous rape” and a gross betrayal of trust. He emphasized that victims should feel safe in their own homes, where they are supposed to be cared for by their parents or guardians. The judge pointed out that the abuse was not an isolated incident but rather a continuous pattern of molestation. He noted that the father’s repeated apologies lacked sincerity and remorse, as he continued to violate his daughter despite acknowledging his wrongdoing.