INCEST is a crime against the order of nature, the High Court in Suva told a 59-year-old man as he was sentenced to 13 years in jail after being convicted of having sex with his mentally-ill daughter.
Justice Paul Madigan told the former security officer his actions were an attack on the fabric of the nuclear family.
“In this case, the crime is aggravated by a large degree in that the accused’s daughter was and still is mentally and emotionally handicapped and aggravated by the fact that she has had to move away from the family house and her siblings,” said Justice Madigan.
“The facts established at trial are that the victim is a 29-year-old and his second eldest daughter.
“She has been suffering all her life from a mental handicap and although she was able to give relevant evidence, it was quite obvious that she was in a state of stress about the event.
“And she was clearly muddled about normal matters such as her residence over the years and whether she had one or two babies.”
Justice Madigan said the victim impact report filed by the State revealed the victim felt distressed and socially inadequate and had, as a result of this incident, to move from the family home.
The man, who is also former church pastor, will have to serve 11 years before becoming eligible for parole.
