Rape! 11 Years, 11 Months Imprisonment For Father of Four
A 43-year-old father of four, who raped his 17-year-old sister in-law, has been told that he scarred the life of the innocent unsuspecting vulnerable victim for his sexual gratification and lustful desires.
The accused was sentenced to 11 years and 11 months imprisonment by Lautoka High Court judge Justice Sunil Sharma.
The accused was ordered to serve a non-parole period of 10 years imprisonment.
Justice Sharma stated that the court has an obligation to protect the vulnerable from any form of sexual violations therefore an immediate long-term imprisonment was warranted.
“You have committed a very serious offence on your sister-in-law who had come to stay with you and your family and get educated,” Justice Sharma said.
“You have not only breached her trust, but have taken advantage of the fact that she was alone at home.
“You ought to have known better and refrained yourself from doing what you did.”
The victim was residing with the accused and his wife at Malawai, Nadi, on January 25, 2015 when the incident happened.
She was alone at home on that day after the other family members went to church.
After cooking, she went to have her shower when the accused opened the bathroom door and told her that he wanted to have a relationship with her.
The girl told him that they could not because he was her brother-in-law; however, he wanted to have sex with her and told her that he was the boss of the house and he was the one who looks after everyone in the house.
The accused pushed the girl on the floor removed her undergarment and raped her after which he told her not to tell his wife about what had happened.
Justice Sharma highlighted that the victim was scared and did not know what to do as she felt numbness from her hip downwards.
As mitigation the accused submitted that he is a first offender, was employed as a storeman and is not a violent person.
The aggravating features were that he breached his sister-in-law’s trust, pre-planning and the substantial age difference.
Edited by Percy Kean
Feedback: fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj
