A man who was found guilty of raping an 8-year-old girl in a village in Sigatoka in 2015 has been sentenced to 17 years and 9 months imprisonment by the Lautoka High Court.
The man was charged with two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault.
It was heard in court that the man raped the girl inside his house.
While sentencing the man, Judge, Justice Sunil Sharma says there has been an increase in sexual offences involving offenders who are known to the victim and are matured adults.
Justice Sharma says it is shocking and appalling to note the manner in which the accused had committed the offences.
The Judge told the man that he committed serious offences against an unsuspecting and vulnerable child from his own village who the man was supposed to protect.
A non-parole period of 16 years has been set.
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