A father of two, found guilty of raping a girl with a disability, will serve eight out of his nine-year prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole. This decision was made by Justice Sunil Sharma during a ruling at the High Court in Lautoka earlier this month.
Court documents reveal that the 47-year-old taxi driver had lured the victim into his vehicle under the guise of providing her a ride home. Instead of taking her to her intended destination, he threatened her and drove to a hotel in Votualevu. After the assault, he dropped her off at Namaka and fled the scene.
The victim’s impact statement expressed feelings of shame, humiliation, and stress resulting from the assault. Justice Sharma highlighted the profound effects of such a crime, stating, “Rape not only affects the integrity of a victim, but violates human dignity, leaving lifelong scars of psychological devastation that bring about a sense of self-blame and hopelessness, which does not heal easily even after physical injuries have healed.” He concluded by asserting the necessity of keeping the offender away from society for an extended period.