A man was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for raping his partner’s niece when she lived with them while attending school in Suva.
The man was convicted of four counts of rape on July 24, and the matter was called for sentencing before High Court judge Justice Siainiu Fa’alogo Bull on July 27.
In her written judgment, Justice Bull, said the girl came to Suva to live with her aunt and the man, in their home, while she was attending school.
The incidents occurred between 2019 and 2020 when the girl was 14 and 15 years old. Justice Bull said the man was in a position of authority in the home and abused that authority by sexually molesting the girl.
And that it was an astonishing submission by the man’s lawyer that there was no family relationship and no breach of trust or abuse of authority because he was not related to the girl, and because she was brought to live in his home — not that he had gone to get her to live in his home.
“While living in your home, she was in your care,” she said.
“You gave evidence that you and your de facto partner were in charge of the home. When your partner was not at home, you were in control.
“You attended her parents and teachers interviews as her guardian.
“Your offending is therefore a breach of trust, not only of your partner, but also of the young victim and her parents.”
He was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.
One and a half months was deducted from the sentence for time spent in remand, leaving 12 years, 10 and a half months to be served, with a non-parole period of 11 years.
A permanent domestic violence restraining order was issued for the protection of the victim.
