A MAN convicted of sexually assaulting a Class 7 student last year has had his two-year and five-month jail term suspended for four years.
The 20-year-old had pleaded guilty in the High Court in Suva to a count of sexual assault committed on April 8 last year in Nasinu.
During trial the court heard the 11-year-old victim was walking towards the Valelevu Health Centre about 6pm on that day when the man and another called out to her. It was the first time the accused had met the victim.
After his companion left, the man and the victim entered a house in Nasinu where they spent the night together.
The man, who has spent three months in custody for the duration of the trial, was vouched for by a senior pastor as an active member of the church’s youth group who had shown genuine commitment to grow spiritually and reform himself.
The pastor emphasised the need for the man to be given another chance to pursue his life constructively and productively and avoid conflicting with the law.
“I am of the view that fully suspending the custodial sentence in this instant will constructively enhance the opportunity for the accused to rehabilitate and reform himself without undermining the sentencing objectives of punishments, retribution and deterrence,” Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu ruled on July 16.
He also explained to the man the consequences of violating the suspended sentence imposed.
