The High Court in Lautoka has jailed a 29-year-old man for 15 years and three months on charges of sexual assault and rape.
The incident happened in November, 2018, and the victim was an 11-year-old girl. Justice Sunil Sharma stated in his October 7 ruling that the accused had committed serious offences against the victim.
“You cannot be forgiven for what you have done to her. You never gave a second thought about what you were doing to this innocent child who was sleeping in the comfort of her home.”
Justice Sharma said the victim had also been psychologically and emotionally affected.
“Rape is not only a physical act, it destroys the very soul of the victim and also brings about a sense of hopelessness and anxiety. There is no doubt that positive and happy childhood memories contribute towards child development which is an inspiration for the future. Unfortunately, this is not so for the victim.”
Justice Sharma handed down a 15 years and 3 months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 13 years.
