The man who raped and sexually assaulted his 10-year-old stepdaughter in Nausori and was on the run has told the court that he ran away because his family members had scared him on the day of the trial by telling him that he will be sentenced.
The man was arrested in Deepwater, Korovou yesterday and produced before High Court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza this morning.
The 45-year-old man told the court that he was so scared that he lost his mind and ran away.
Justice Hamza informed the man that his trial was held in his absence and his lawyer did the best she could to defend him but he was found guilty.
The man who was charged with 6 counts of rape and 2 counts of sexual assault was given life imprisonment.
Justice Hamza has set a non-parole period of 45 years and considering the time spent in remand, the man can apply for parole after 43 years and 11 months.
The man can appeal the court’s decision within 30 days from 24th August.
The incidents happened between 2014 to 2018.
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