HIGH COURT APPROVES APPEAL FOR PRIEST GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

The High Court in Labasa has allowed the appeal against sentence of a Hindu priest who was convicted and sentenced for sexual assault.

The priest was accused of fondling the genitals of a 12-year-old male child under his care at a temple in Labasa.

He was convicted for sexual assault after trial and sentenced to four years imprisonment with a nonparole period of three years by the Magistrates Court in Labasa.

The priest had appealed both his conviction and sentence, however, at the hearing, the priest then abandoned his appeal against conviction and pursued his appeal against sentence only.

Judge Justice Goundar in his judgment said the priest’s only complaint was that his period in custody on remand was not taken into account by the Magistrate and the State had conceded the point.