The Communications Fiji Limited (CFL) driver, who caused the death of two sisters while driving and was heavily intoxicated, has been jailed for nine years.

A tearful Viliame Ratoto walked out of a packed courtroom after hearing the judgment by Judge Justice Salesi Temo.

Ratoto earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, one count of breach of zero alcohol limit and one count of disobedience of lawful order.

The father of five, all of whom are girls, aged 14, 12, eight, six, and four, has been given eight years non-parole period.

On September 16, 2018, Ratoto drove a motor vehicle registration number EVENTS, in a reckless manner, along Kanace Road, which caused the death of Archana Amrita Chand, 26, and Anjula Chand, 35.

Justice Temo said the case clearly demonstrated a reckless attitude towards the driving of motor vehicles in this country.

He said Ratoto was highly intoxicated and had been legally banned from driving and unleashed a high degree of violence on the community.

“Because of his negative driving attitude, he had taken away, not one, but two lives from the same family,” he said.

“You have caused untold misery to the family of the victims.

“You (Ratoto) showed no regard to the two victim’s right to life, as embodied in our 2013 Fijian Constitution.

“The victims suffered very severe injuries, which led to their deaths and they are now dead, but you are still alive.

“By offending against the two deceased’s, you had deprived them of their right to life and caused heartache and sadness to their families,” Justice Temo said.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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