A 67-year-old man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his daughter, following a ruling by the High Court in Lautoka. He must serve a minimum of 12 years before being eligible for parole. The offenses occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2002, when the victim was just 12 years old. Justice Aruna Aluthge highlighted the premeditated nature of the crimes, as the man had created an opening in the floor of his daughter’s bedroom to facilitate the abuse.
The court heard that the father not only assaulted his daughter multiple times but also threatened her, warning her against speaking about the incidents. This led to her reporting the abuse to the police only in June 2023. In mitigating circumstances, the man’s attorney pointed out that he is a first-time offender at the age of 67, is a father of seven, and has no prior convictions.
In his judgment, Justice Aluthge addressed the serious nature of the crimes, emphasizing the significant age difference between the perpetrator and the victim and the psychological impact on the young girl, who was subjected to threats and manipulation. The man has a 30-day window to appeal his sentence to the Court of Appeal in Suva.
This case resonates with recent similar cases where individuals have received significant prison sentences for sexual offenses against family members. These cases reflect a broader societal issue concerning the vulnerability of minors and the importance of holding offenders accountable, fostering hope that such measures can help protect children from abuse in the future.
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