A high court in Labasa has sentenced to more than 10 years in jail a man convicted of the rape of his underage cousin in Taveuni more than a year ago.
Sentencing the man Justice Rajasinghe said he not only breached the trust the victim, who was 11 at the time, had in him, but he also committed the offense in one of the victim’s “safest place” being the home she lived in with her grandmother.
The incident happened around 4.30 pm on Sunday, 6 December 2020.
After considering the seriousness of the crime, as well as mitigating factors, Justice Rajasinghe arrived at the head sentence of 14 years in jail and a non-parole term of 12 years. But because the man had been in remand custody for more than 15 months, Justice Rajasinghe set the actual sentencing to 12 years and nine months with a non-parole period of 10 years and nine months.
