A 29-year-old man who raped and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl has been jailed for 15 years and 3 months by the Lautoka High Court.
The offence took place on 11th of November, 2018 when the girl was sleeping at her home with her younger sister.
The girls’ parents were at work at the time.
While sentencing the man, Judge Justice Sunil Sharma says the man has committed serious offences against the girl who was unsuspecting and vulnerable and he cannot be forgiven for what he has done to her.
He says the man never gave a second thought about what he was doing to the innocent child who was sleeping in the comfort of her home.
Justice Sharma says the girl has also been psychologically and emotionally affected as rape is not only a physical act but it also destroys the very soul of the victim and brings about a sense of hopelessness and anxiety.
He further says there is no doubt that positive and happy childhood memories contribute towards child development which is an inspiration for the future but unfortunately, this is not so for the girl.
The man is eligible for parole after serving 13 years in prison.
