Stepfather, 59, Jailed For 13 Years For Rape Of Stepdaughter

As a stepfather, she trusted you and looked to you for guidance. Yet you did the unthinkable, by sexually abusing her and raping her twice in November 2020.

High Court Judge Justice Salesi Temo said this to a 59-year-old man, who has been jailed for 13 years with a non-parole period of 11 years, for sexually assaulting and rape of his 15-year-old stepdaughter.

Justice Temo said unfortunately, this problem had become prevalent in our society, despite the heavy prison sentence passed by the courts for the rape of children.

“The court had said in the past, and will keep on saying that it will not tolerate the abuse of children in our society,” he said.

“As it had done in the past, and now is doing and will continue to do, it will pass heavy prison sentences for the rape of children, as a warning to others.”

Between November 24 and 27, 2020, in Ovalau, the offender committed various sexual offences against the victim.

The offences were all committed in the family bedroom, when the victim’s mother, the offender’s wife, was away.

Afterward, the offender threatened her not to reveal what happened to anyone.

Justice Temo said the Parliament viewed the offence as a serious one.

“It violates the dignity of a person,” he said.

“It is an unwarranted intrusion into the privacy of a person.

“It is an ultimate act of showing utter disrespect to a person and therefore those who commit this offence, must expect a lengthy prison sentence to restore the balance, harmony, and atonement to the victim,” Justice Temo said.