A 64‑year‑old man has been sentenced to 7 years and 11 months imprisonment by the Nausori Magistrates Court for sexually assaulting his 6‑year‑old niece in 2015.
According to the summary of facts, the victim was playing when her uncle called her to an empty house and committed the offense.
She then reported the matter to her grandmother.
The incident happened in Naitasiri.
Resident Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne says the aggravating factors which he considered was that the victim was 6-years-old at the time of offending and the offender was 62‑years‑old putting significant age difference between the parties.
He also considered that the man is related to the victim.
Magistrate Somaratne says by committing this offense the man breached the trust of the victim.
The mitigating factors which the Magistrate considered were that the man is presently 64-years-old; married with 4 children and is suffering from some illnesses.
He also considered that the man had no previous convictions.
In his closing remarks, Magistrate Somaratne said sexual assaults upon young children in this country by close family members must be severely punished.
He said the perpetrators that engage in these conducts must serve long prison sentences, not only to punish them, but also to deter others who might have similar intentions.
The man has been given a non‑parole period of 5 years.
