Former Tailevu school teacher jailed for rape of two boys

The High Court in Suva has sentenced a teacher from a prominent school in Tailevu to 14 years and nine months' imprisonment after he was convicted on one count of sexual assault and five counts of rape.

While delivering the sentence, Justice Usaia Ratuvili noted that "schools are meant to be a safe place for children"; therefore, the accused had breached that trust.

The court heard that the teacher sexually assaulted two boys, aged 15 and 17, between 2023 and 2024 at the teacher's residence.

It is alleged that the accused penetrated three different victims with his penis on three separate occasions and committed an act of indecency by touching one of the victims' penis without consent.

The State also alleged that the accused penetrated the private parts of another victim without consent at a different location.

For the sexual assault charge, the accused was sentenced to one year and nine months' imprisonment. For the five counts of rape, he was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment.

The court also took into account the accused's good conduct and deducted two years from the sentence. A further three months was deducted for the time he spent in remand.

The final sentence to be served is 12 years and six months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 11 years and nine months.

The accused has 30 days to appeal the sentence.