A taxidriver convicted of raping a Dutch national last year has been handed a 11-year jail term.

The 32-year-old married man appeared last Friday before Justice Daniel Goundar.

Justice Goundar also issued him a non-parole period of seven years.

The court records show the 23-year-old complainant had come to Fiji to carry out a voluntary internship with an NGO.

She knew the accused was the driver who had picked her from the airport and dropped her off at a resort.

The complainant and two friends had gone to the resort for a social outing at the bar. Her friends also called and invited the accused using the complainant’s Snapchat account.

Later, while walking along the beach, the complainant felt uneasy being alone with the accused. While there, the accused committed unconsented acts on her.

Despite the complainant telling the accused numerous times to stop, he didn’t. He only stopped after noticing her friend approaching.

Further, while she was being comforted by her friend, the accused kept telling her not to listen to the complainant because she was drunk.

“The young victim was vulnerable as a visitor away from her home and family and you knew that and took advantage of her,” Justice Goundar ruled.

“The victim experienced both physical bruises and psychological trauma.

“There is a breach of trust being a taxi proprietor, the victim was one of your customers and she trusted you as a public service transport provider.

“This conviction of rape is going to change your character for the rest of your life, but the court must also consider the harm that rape does to the victim. Rape is not only a physical violation of the victim’s body but also her soul and mind.”