Long Jail Term for ‘Threat to Community’

A61-year-old villager was jailed for 20 years by the High Court in Suva after he admitted multiple sexual offences and the trial judge said he constituted a threat to the community.

The four complainants in the

case ranged in ages from six to nine years old.

“You have exploited the vulnerability and naivety of the four victims,” Justice Vinsent Perera said while handing down sentence. The man pleaded guilty to six counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault in a village on Kadavu.

The incidents took place between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017.

The first victim was six years old, the second seven years old while the third and fourth victims were nine years old, respectively, at the time of the offences. While passing sentence, Justice Perera said he was satisfied that the man constituted a threat to the community, by virtue of provisions of Section 11 of the Sentencing and Penalties Act.

“I hereby determine that you (the man) are a habitual offender. “There is a serious breach of trust in relation to all four victims. The age difference between you and the victims ranges from 50 to 53 years.

“You have entered an early guilty plea and therefore have accepted responsibility for your actions,” Justice Perera.

The man was jailed to 20 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years.

He was given 30 days to appeal against his sentence to the Fiji Court of Appeal.

Edited by Epineri Vula