Stepfather Jailed for 16 Years for Raping Stepdaughter
The man had initially pleaded guilty to their five counts but was found guilty after the State presented three witnesses during the trial including the complainant.
Saturday 12 October 2024 | 14:59
The High Court in Suva sentenced a man to 16 years and 10 months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of raping his stepdaughter.
The former primary school teacher was sentenced by Justice Thushara Rajasinghe. He was convicted of three counts of rape and one count each of indecent and sexual assault.
It was proved in court that on several occasion between 2017 and 2018, the man indecently and sexually assaulted her in their home.
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The complainant was 17 years old at the time of the incident.
The man had initially pleaded guilty to their five counts but was found guilty after the State presented three witnesses during the trial including the complainant.
While his judgement was passed on September 27, the former teacher was later sentenced last Friday.
Justice Rajasinghe told the man that the victim’s report stated that the crime had adversely affected her emotionally and psychologically.
Justice Rajasinghe said sexual exploitation of children within their domestic environment had become a social threat.
The court found that the stepfather had thoroughly executed the crime when the complainant was alone and unable to escape or seek assistance.
He found that being her stepfather, he provided her needs as a father but covertly asked in return, surrogated sexual gratification from her which an emotional extortion was using her vulnerability and young age.
The court found that even after being forgiven by her stepdaughter and her mother, the man still tried to unleash his sexual assault on her when he found the opportunity.
The court only considered the mitigating factor where he had previously good character while being a primary school teacher for 30 years.
He will serve his sentence with a non-parole period of 14 years and 10 months.
A permanent domestic violence restraining order has also been issued against him with standard no-molestation and no contact conditions. Breach of this order will land him in prosecution for an offence under Section 77 of the Domestic Violence Act.
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