Court upholds 30-year sentence for father who raped daughter

A MAN who repeatedly raped his biological daughter has lost an appeal to reduce his sentence.

In April 2019 the then 44-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by judges at Lefkoşa Assize Court for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting his daughter from the age of 15.

The offences took place between February 2016 and October 2018 in a field, and in the girl’s bedroom at her home in the Lefkoşa district village of Alayköy.

The attacker, who had admitted to the crimes, appealed against the length of the sentence on the grounds that it was “excessive”.

However a panel of judges at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Court of Appeals, made up of Beril Çağdal, Peri Hakkı and chaired by Bertan Özerdağ, ruled that the sentence given by Lefkoşa Assize Court was correct.

Judge Özerdağ, reading out the appeal ruling, emphasised that the crimes of “rape of a minor under the age of 16” and “engaging in sexual intercourse with a relative” carry a maximum life sentence under Chapter 154 of the Penal Code.

Judge Özerdağ added that the Lefkoşa Assize Court panel of judges “did not make a mistake” by not taking into account that the victim had “forgiven” her father because she was “worried that her family would suffer”.

In rejecting the appeal, he also stressed the importance of “effective and deterrent punishments” for such crimes.