A 60-YEAR-old man has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for raping his sister-in-law.
The father of four pleaded guilty to two counts of rape before High Court judge Justice Salesi Temo in Suva.
The court heard that on May 18, 2008, the victim went with the accused in his boat to drop her son off at school and returned via the accuseds boat that evening.
Only the accused and the complainant were in the boat which developed problems and drifted among a group of islands.
Justice Temo said the accused gave the only blanket to the complainant to cover herself and a while later shared the blanket with the complainant.
Justice Temo said the offence was a serious breach of trust, saying the accused was the elder brother of the complainants husband, who died in 2008.
"The accused thereby stood in a position of trust to the complainant who was his sister-in-law," Justice Temo said.
"He was supposed to look after her and care for her. Instead, he raped her when she was vulnerable in his boat out at sea at the time.
"Furthermore, by committing the crime, the accused showed utter disregard to the complainants right as an individual, including her dignity.
"The accused was extremely selfish in forcing himself on the complainant without seeking her consent."
On Friday, Justice Temo sentenced the man to seven years imprisonment for each count to be served concurrently.
He also ordered that the accused serve a non-parole period of five years.