The High Court in Lautoka has sentenced a 50-year-old man to nine years in prison for the rape of his 13-year-old niece, an incident that occurred on December 23, 2023, in Sigatoka. The man lured the victim into his home where the crime took place.
In his ruling on October 11, Justice Riyaz Hamza expressed that, as the uncle of the victim, the man had a responsibility to protect her, not to violate her trust. Justice Hamza emphasized that the perpetrator took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability and naivety, showing a blatant disregard for her personal security and dignity.
“This act has robbed the complainant of her innocence, exposing her to sexual activity at a tender age,” Hamza stated. He also noted the alarming prevalence of child rape cases in society today.
The court has established a non-parole period of seven years and 77 days for the offender.