Rapist Neighbour Jailed for 12 Years
A 29 year old man was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment yesterday for raping and indecently assaulting his 14- year-old female neighbour.
The incident occurred last year on February 13 and April 30 in Nausori.
Suva High Court Judge Justice Vincent Perera concurred with the unanimous guilty verdict delivered by the three trial assessors and found the accused guilty as charged.
Justice Perera mentioned that the complainant used to call the accused ‘bhaiya’ meaning brother and he breached her trust when he committed the offence.
Justice Perera said the aggravating factors were that the father of two exploited the victim’s vulnerability.
The accused was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for rape and 18 months for indecent assault.
He was ordered to serve both sentences concurrently.
He will serve 10 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
