The High Court in Suva has sentenced a man to 16 years and 10 months in prison after he was convicted of raping his stepdaughter. Justice Thushara Rajasinghe presided over the case in which the former primary school teacher was found guilty on three counts of rape, as well as one count each of indecent assault and sexual assault.
The court heard that the man had sexually assaulted the complainant on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2018 while they were at home. At the time of the incidents, the victim was 17 years old.
Although the defendant initially pleaded guilty to five charges, the evidence presented during the trial, including testimonies from three witnesses and the complainant, led to his convictions. The judgment was made on September 27, and the sentencing occurred the following Friday.
Justice Rajasinghe noted that the victim’s statement indicated that the events had a harmful emotional and psychological impact on her. The judge described the sexual exploitation of children in domestic settings as a significant social issue.
The court determined that the stepfather exploited his relationship with the complainant, providing her with basic needs while secretly seeking sexual fulfillment, taking advantage of her vulnerability and youth. Despite receiving forgiveness from both his stepdaughter and her mother, the man continued to attempt further assaults when the opportunity arose.
While the court acknowledged his prior good character from a 30-year teaching career as a mitigating factor, he was still given a substantial sentence. He will serve the majority of his sentence with a non-parole period of 14 years and 10 months. Additionally, the court issued a permanent domestic violence restraining order against him, which includes conditions prohibiting molestation and contact. Any breach of this order may result in prosecution under the Domestic Violence Act.