Man jailed 17 years for raping three young nieces

A man who repeatedly raped three young girls while they were in his care has been sentenced to 17 years and nine months' imprisonment by the High Court in Suva.

The 58-year-old man was sentenced by the High Court in Suva after admitting to raping his three young nieces on multiple occasions.

Justice Daniel Goundar handed down the sentence today, saying that the offender pleaded guilty to 13 counts of rape committed between 2024 and 2025.

The victims, aged 13, 11, and 7, are sisters who were living with their grandmother while their parents worked in Nadi.

In court, Justice Goundar condemned the man’s actions, saying he had betrayed the trust of the children who saw him as a “bigger father.”

He noted the assaults caused severe physical and emotional harm that will likely affect the victims for life.

The repeated abuse took place while the children were under the man’s care, with the judge stressing the seriousness of the prolonged violations.

The offender will be eligible for parole after serving 13 years and eight months of his sentence.