The High Court in Suva has sentenced a man to 13 years and 11 months in prison for multiple charges of sexual assault and rape. The accused appeared before High Court Judge Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu on Wednesday.
He was found guilty of three counts of Sexual Assault under section 210 (1) (a) of the Crimes Act 2009, and two counts of Rape under section 207 (1) and 2 (b) of the Crimes Act 2009. The incidents reportedly occurred between June and December 2020 in Naikawaga Village, Tailevu, where he unlawfully assaulted the victim. Additionally, it is alleged that from January to December 2018, he penetrated the victim without her consent in the same location.
The court noted that the man voluntarily pleaded guilty to all five counts. Justice Bulamainaivalu determined that, pursuant to section 18 of the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009 and the Supreme Court ruling in Timo v State [2019] FJSC 22; CAV0022.2018, a non-parole period of 12 years was appropriate for this case.
The accused has 30 days to file an appeal against the sentencing.