A 48-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced to 18 years imprisonment for raping his daughter.
High Court judge in Lautoka Justice Sithambarampillay Thurairaja said the offence committed by the accused was "unpardonable".
In passing sentence, Justice Thurairaja said every child depended on his or her parents and girls had a hero-worship attachment towards their father.
However, he said the accused took advantage of his position and raped his daughter who was 14 years old at the time of the incident.
"I do not think any fair-minded person will consider a lenient sentence in an incestuous rape case like this," Justice Thurairaja said. The incident took place in 2006 after the victim returned from attending a festival with a relative.
According to the court proceedings, before the end of the festival that night, the accused took the victim home and fondled her as she slept.
The victim told the court that since 2004 (when she was in Class Seven), her father had abused and raped her.
The victim revealed the matter to an aunt two years later and a complaint was lodged with the police.
"Considering the nature of the offence and you being the biological father of the victim, ruining her life is unacceptable," Justice Thurairaja said.
He then sentenced the accused to 18 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 16 years.