TWO youths have been given suspended jail sentences by the High Court in Suva for rape.
The youths were jailed for six months on Friday but their sentence was suspended for two years.
High Court judge Justice Prabaharan Kumararatnam said the suspended sentence was given because the court considered the duo's personal background and other circumstances of the case.
And probation officers were requested by the court to arrange proper counselling programs for the two juveniles until they complete their education.
The court heard that on October 10, 2010, the two juveniles raped the 17-year-old complainant in a vacant house in their village compound.
It heard the complainant was sitting at his grandmother's place when the two juveniles passed by and called him to visit a vacant house.
The two juveniles then told the complainant to enter the vacant house and remove his trousers. The complainant obeyed and they raped him.
The court heard the duo then threatened the complainant with assault if he told anybody about what had happened.
The complainant went home and told his mother about the incident and it was then reported to police.
Justice Kumararatnam said both juveniles were remorseful, saved the court's time by pleading guilty to the charge, they were both continuing their education, were willing to offer traditional apology to the complainant's family and both were first offenders.
They were given 30 days to appeal their sentence if they wanted to.