Praveen Prasad Ram, a 47-year-old father of two, has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison for abducting and raping a girl in Nadi in December 2020.
According to court documents, Ram offered the girl a ride under the pretense of taking her home but instead took her to a hotel room where he committed the offense.
He then dropped her off in Namaka, where she reported the incident to the police. Medical examination confirmed the presence of a piece of soap and two cigarette buds in her vagina, which were removed by medical personnel.
In sentencing, Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Sunil Sharma highlighted the severe psychological and emotional impact on the victim, noting that Ram had taken advantage of an innocent special needs individual.
Justice Sharma stated, “It is only appropriate that you be put away from society for a long time. The victim was unsuspecting and vulnerable; you targeted the victim who was alone looking for transport to go home.”
Ram’s sentence includes a non-parole period of eight years.
