A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison for two counts of rape by the Lautoka High Court. The court was informed that on December 15, 2020, the man offered the victim, a deaf and mute individual, a ride under the guise of taking her home.
Instead of following through, he threatened her and drove to a hotel in Votualevu, where he rented a room. There, he forcibly took the victim from the vehicle to the room and assaulted her.
High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma emphasized that the accused violated the victim’s trust by offering her a lift and misleading her about his intentions. He noted that the defendant’s actions demonstrated a high level of premeditation, as he exploited the victim’s vulnerabilities.
Justice Sharma highlighted the profound impact of such crimes, stating that rape not only compromises a victim’s physical integrity but also undermines their human dignity, leaving lasting psychological scars. He underlined that the perpetrator took advantage of a defenseless individual and stressed that failing to impose a substantial sentence would be a disservice to justice. According to the victim’s impact statement, she continues to experience emotional and psychological distress following the incident.
The man has 30 days to appeal his sentence and conviction.