A 49-year-old man who raped and sexually assaulted his 15-year-old tenant in Nasinu has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by Suva High Court Judge, Justice Aruna Aluthge.
The man was charged with one count each of rape and sexual assault and the incidents happened in February last year.
Justice Aluthge says the man knew that the girl was alone in the room when he committed these offences.
He says the man exploited her vulnerability adding the harm caused to the victim is irreparable.
The Judge adds the courts in Fiji, at all levels, have repeatedly pronounced that the child rapists must severely be dealt with.
Justice Aluthge says offenders should expect condign punishment to mark the society’s outrage and denunciation against sexual abuse of children adding the courts have also emphasized that the increasing prevalence of such offending in the community calls for deterrent sentences.
A non-parole period of 9 years has been set.
