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 a ride to the victim under the pretense of taking her home. The victim, who has special needs and is both deaf and mute, was instead driven to a hotel in Votualevu after the man threatened her.
Once at the hotel, he forcefully removed her from the vehicle, took her to a room, and assaulted her.
High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma emphasized that the accused had betrayed the victim’s trust by not stopping where she wished to get off, instead leading her to a location where she was sexually assaulted.
Justice Sharma pointed out that the accused had planned the act knowing the victim’s disabilities, taking control of the situation to exploit her vulnerability.
“Rape not only affects the integrity of a victim but violates human dignity, leaving lifelong psychological scars that bring self-blame and hopelessness, often persisting long after physical injuries have healed,” he stated.
He added, “You have taken advantage of an innocent special needs individual. This court must impose a long-term custodial sentence to fulfill its duty. According to the victim impact statement, the victim continues to suffer emotionally and psychologically from the incident.”
The 47-year-old man has 30 days to appeal his sentence and conviction.