A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for raping a seven-year-old girl.

Serupepeli Bolalailai was charged with a count each of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape.

Suva Judge Justice Achala Wengappuli concurred with the assessor’s opinion and found Bolalailai guilty of all charges.

Bolalailai had lured the girl into a room with a $2 coin on October 25, 2015 and tried to perform sexual acts on her.

For aggravating factors Justice Wengappuli said that Bolalailai had breached the girl’s trust, it was an opportunistic planning, he took advantage of the victim’s vulnerability, displayed a total disregard for the victim’s wellbeing and there was an age gap of 46 years.

For mitigating factors Justice Wengappuli said Bolalailai was a first offender and he had co-operated with the Police.

The terms of imprisonments imposed in relation to charges of sexual assault and attempted rape are to run concurrently with the term of 13 years of imprisonment imposed on the charge of rape.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

Feedback: jessica.gounder@fijisun.com.fj