A 42-YEAR-OLD farmer has been sentenced to 13 years and nine months imprisonment after being convicted of one count of rape.
The court heard that the man raped his 17-year-old niece on October 15, 2016 at Gau Island.
Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza told the man that by his shameful act, he has robbed the innocence of a child who was his niece.
He adds that the man should have protected the victim but instead he breached the trust expected from him.
Justice Hamza stressed that the victim has been emotionally and psychologically traumatized by the man’s action which has caused her to withdraw from socializing with family members.
A non-parole period of 11 years and nine months has been set.
