The High Court in Lautoka has sentenced a man to more than 12 years in jail for raping a 16-year-old girl in Nadi last year.
He will serve nine years before he may be considered eligible for parole.
On May 1 last year, the victim was walking to school from the Waimalika junction when the man followed and raped her.
The court heard the girl then walked to a friend’s home and relayed the incident to her mother, who then took her to school and informed the vice principal of the incident.
The matter was reported to the police.
In mitigation, the defence submitted the man was a first offender and was 18 years old at the time of the offending. He had also sought forgiveness from the complainant and expressed his remorse to the court.
Passing sentence, Justice Sunil Sharma said the aggravating factors were that the complainant was vulnerable and helpless, that the offender took advantage of the situation since the victim was alone, and that he was bold to commit the offence on a public road with no regard for the victim’s safety.
Justice Sharma told the offender he had committed a serious offence against a child who was on her way to school.
“The victim was unsuspecting and vulnerable. You should have demonstrated maturity and self-restraint,” Justice Sharma stated in his ruling.
“You acted on impulse and lust, without a second thought about the consequences of your actions.
“A deterrent sentence is the only appropriate response.”
The man has 30 days to appeal.
