A 32-year-old man has been sentenced by the High Court in Lautoka, to 13 years in prison with a non parole period of 11 years for raping his 17-year-old cousin in 2019.
The court heard that the perpetrator who was 28 years old at the time and victim who was 14 years old were alone in the house when the man locked both doors before placing his hand over the boy’s mouth to keep him from yelling.
He then forced his young cousin onto the floor, all the while clamping his mouth and pulling his pants down.
The victim struggled and cried during the ordeal and the man told him not to tell anyone as he would punch him.
The victim had trouble sitting for days and could not pass stool. His parents noticed this and upon investigation, he recounted the details to his parents who then contacted authorities.
In passing sentence, Justice Sunil Sharma said the offence ‘should not be forgiven’.
“It is the duty of the court to protect children from sexual abuse or exploitation of any kind that is the reason why the law has imposed life imprisonment for the offence of rape as the maximum penalty.”
“There has been an increase in sexual offences involving offenders who are known to the victim and are matured adults.”
“Rape of a child is one of the most serious forms of sexual violence and offenders should be dealt with severely. Children are entitled to live their lives free from any form of physical or emotional abuse.”
“When an offender sexually abuses a child, he or she should expect condign punishment to mark the society’s outrage and denunciation against such conduct.”
