Man gets 12 years for raping, impregnating a 11-year-old

A 20-year-old man who raped and impregnated a 11-year-old girl in Nasinu in 2011 will be serving 12 years in prison.

The man had pleaded guilty to the charge of two counts of rape.

The court heard that he raped the 11-year-old in December 2011 and repeated the offence in January 2012.

The girl became pregnant and delivered a baby in September which led to enquiries and the arrest of the 20-year-old man.

The Suva High Court Judge Justice Paul Madigan said that the girl missed lengthy periods of her schooling to deal with pregnancy and the birth.

Justice Madigan also said that in a victim report, the girl said that she is ashamed to face her friends and family and that the psychological effect on a child to cope with pregnancy and then to deal with the trauma of giving up her baby for adoption is inconceivable.

The man has to serve 10 years sentence before being eligible for parole.

Story by: Praneeta Prakash