A 29-year-old unemployed man has been sentenced to 10 years of a 12-year prison term after being found guilty of raping a woman with hearing and speech impairments. The man, who has a six-year-old child, was convicted on two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
Court documents revealed that the victim had communicated her rejection of the man’s advances through sign language prior to the assaults. The incident occurred after the victim entered a taxi with the accused and another individual, leading them to an abandoned two-story building in Crompton Place, Samabula.
In his ruling on September 24, Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu noted that the accused had deliberately targeted the victim, exploiting her vulnerable state due to her disabilities and physical weakness. He was meant to offer her protection that night but instead deceived her into going to the vacant building with the intent to commit the crimes.
The court also acknowledged the significant emotional and psychological trauma suffered by the victim, and it was reported by prosecutor Ms. Semisi that the complainant had recently passed away.