A father of two, who was found guilty of raping a disabled girl, will spend eight years of his nine-year prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. This ruling was made earlier this month by Justice Sunil Sharma at the High Court in Lautoka.
Court documents reveal that the 47-year-old taxi driver had pretended to offer the victim a ride home. Instead of taking her to her destination, he threatened her and drove her to a hotel in Votualevu. After the assault, he dropped her off in Namaka and departed.
In her impact statement, the victim expressed feelings of shame, humiliation, and stress due to the attack. Justice Sharma highlighted the profound effects of rape, stating that it not only undermines a victim’s integrity but also violates their human dignity, causing deep psychological wounds that endure long after physical injuries have healed. The judge emphasized the necessity of keeping the offender away from society for a significant period.