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 different occasions between January and December 2022.
The incidents occurred while the victim was living with the accused in his home.
Justice Aruna Aluthge, in a ruling on Monday, emphasized the gravity of such crimes, stating, “The courts in Fiji, at all levels, have repeatedly pronounced that rape of a child is the most serious form of sexual violence.”
Justice Aluthge highlighted international and national obligations to protect children, mentioning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Fiji’s Constitution, which mandate the protection of vulnerable children. He noted, “Our society and the children, expect elders to care and protect them. Children are entitled to live their lives free from any form of physical or emotional abuse.”
Observing the rise in sexual offences involving children in Fiji, Justice Aluthge stressed the need for deterrent sentences. “The courts have emphasized that the increasing prevalence of this offence in our community calls for deterrent sentences. The duty of this Court is to see that the sentences are such as to operate as a powerful deterrent factor to prevent the commission of such offences.”
The court set a non-parole period of 11 years.