Man jailed for sexual assault, attempted rape of colleague

A 55-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment by the High Court in Suva after being found guilty of sexual assault, attempted rape, and indecently insulting a young male colleague.

The offender was acquitted of three counts of rape but convicted on three other charges following a trial that concluded earlier this year.

The court heard that the offences occurred in 2024 at a workplace in Nasinu involving a 22-year-old complainant, who was employed at a greenhouse facility.

In one incident, the offender approached the victim from behind while he was working inside a shipping container and performed a sexual act.

The court was told that in a separate incident, the offender attempted to force the victim to engage in a sexual act while the two were in a vehicle.

The victim resisted despite being pressured and physically pulled by the accused.

The court also heard that the offender exposed himself to the victim on many occasions, including inside workplace bathroom facilities, causing shock and distress.

Sentencing

In sentencing, the judge noted several aggravating factors, including the age difference between the offender and the victim, the abuse of trust in a workplace setting, and the psychological harm caused to the complainant.

The court highlighted concerns about the prevalence of sexual offences against young and vulnerable males in workplaces.

While the offender had no prior convictions and personal circumstances were considered, the seriousness of the offences warranted a custodial sentence.

He will serve a non-parole period of two years before becoming eligible for release. He has 30 days to appeal the sentence.

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