SENTENCING Grandpa, 83, Gets 10 Years For Rape

Two victims, who were under the age of 13 at the time of the incident, find it hard to trust people.

An 83-year-old grandfather was sentenced to 10 years and 10 months imprisonment yesterday.

The accused was charged with four counts of rape, which he was found guilty of and convicted by High Court in Suva judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe.

The incidents happened between May 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017 when the two complainants, who were under 13 years old, were alone.

Justice Rajasinghe said the offence was very serious because it involved children. He said the purpose of the sentence was for deterrence and the protection of the community. He mentioned the tariff for the rape of children was between 10 to 16 years imprisonment. The court heard that the two girls found it difficult to trust people after they were raped.

Justice Rajasinghe said as a result, one of them was now residing in a Children’s Home away from her parents. The two girls were raped when they went to the house of the accused to clean up in preparation for a church service there.

Justice Rajasinghe said the degree of culpability was high. He said the aggravating factors were that there was a clear breach of trust by the accused as the two girls were known to him and they had often visited his home.

The accused, Justice Rajasinghe said, manipulated them and abused their trust. He also denied them normal and natural growth.

The court heard that the accused was a first offender and had been remanded for 26 days.

Justice Rajasinghe said he found no mitigatory value in his personal circumstances. The accused was ordered to serve a prison term of five years and 10 months before he could be eligible for parole.

Justice Rajasinghe said the offence was very serious because it involved children. He said the purpose of the sentence was for deterrence and the protection of the community.