A 42-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for eight years by the High Court in Labasa for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl early this year.
The man was found guilty and sentenced by Justice Salesi Temo for unlawfully and indecently assaulting the victim.
The court heard the incident happened sometime in April, this year, and on an island in Vanua Levu.
According to court proceedings, the victim was returning from a neighbour's house when the man forced her into his house and sexually assaulted her.
He then gave her money.
Justice Temo said the man had seriously breached the trust of the child to whom he was related.
"This is a more serious issue since the victim is vulnerable in society because she is just nine-years-old," Justice Temo said. "The accused also lured the victim with the use of money."
In mitigation, the man said he was a single farmer with no children and only completed his education up to Class Four.
Justice Temo set a non-parole period of six years.