A man from Lautoka has been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the High Court in Lautoka for raping his under-aged niece on three separate occasions between January and December 2022. The victim had been living with the accused when the incidents took place.
In his ruling, Justice Aruna Aluthge emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating, “The courts in Fiji, at all levels, have repeatedly pronounced that rape of a child is the most serious form of sexual violence.” He further highlighted the responsibility of the courts, as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Fiji’s Constitution, to protect the vulnerable members of society, particularly children.
“Our society and the children expect elders to care for and protect them,” Justice Aluthge remarked. “Children are entitled to live their lives free from any form of physical or emotional abuse.”
Justice Aluthge also noted the increasing incidence of sexual offences involving children in Fiji and underscored the importance of deterrent sentences. “The courts have emphasized that the increasing prevalence of this offence in our community calls for deterrent sentences,” he said. “The duty of this Court is to ensure that the sentences serve as a powerful deterrent to prevent such offences.”
The court set a non-parole period of 11 years.