ODPP pushes for life imprisonment for child rapists

Calls are growing for life imprisonment to be imposed on child rapist as the country continues to record alarming three-figure sexual offence cases each year.

Senior prosecutors were told that the current numbers show a crisis that demands stronger action in the courts.

At the Director for Public Prosecutions’ conference yesterday, the manager for the sexual crimes division, Unaisi Ratukalou, urged her team to take a firmer stand when handling cases involving children.

She said too many victims were still waiting for justice while predators, often family members, continued to harm the most vulnerable.

According to ODPP statistics, rape cases dropped from 502 in 2023 to 435 last year, but officials said the figures remained deeply troubling.

Ms Ratukalou said the fight against drugs was not the only major concern, as many children continued to suffer in silence after assaults committed in their own homes.

“Don’t forget the children; stand up for the victim,” she said, encouraging prosecutors to ask the courts to consider life terms in the worst cases. 

Child rape currently carries a tariff of 11 to 20 years, while adult rape ranges from 7 to 50 years. Judges may go beyond these tariffs if strong justification is provided.

She pointed to a recent High Court case in Suva where an offender received a life sentence for repeatedly raping his daughter over five years from early childhood. She reminded prosecutors that while defence lawyers will argue for leniency, the State must be bold in seeking sentences that reflect the lifelong trauma suffered by victims.

Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Nancy Tikoisuva, echoed the call, saying the push for tougher penalties was needed to deter offenders as sexual offence numbers remained high this year. 

She said the courts had begun responding to these concerns, and hoped the approach would extend across more cases.