A 32-year-old farmer was sentenced to 13 years behind bars for raping a two-year-old child in 2020.

Court records revealed the farmer was alone with the victim when the offence occurred.

In sentencing the accused, High Court in Lautoka judge Justice Aruna Aluthge said the accused had taken advantage of the victim while her mother was away.

“There is a considerable age gap between you and the victim,” Justice Aluthge said.

“You were 28 years old at the time of the offence when your victim was a toddler aged just two years.

“You took the opportunity and exploited the vulnerability of a child when her mother was away.

“You are the victim’s cousin and an adult in a domestic environment and the victim’s mother left the victim home because she trusted you. You breached that trust.”

Justice Aluthge said sexual offences involving children were on the rise.

“The courts have emphasised that the increasing prevalence of this offence in our community calls for deterrent sentences.

“The duty of this court is to see that the sentences are such as to operate as a powerful deterrent factor to prevent the commission of such offences.

“The offenders must receive harsher punishment to mark the society’s outrage and denunciation against sexual abuse of children.”

Justice Aluthge said the main purpose of the punishment was to condemn these actions and to protect the public from the commission of such crimes by making it clear to you and would be perpetrators that if anyone yielded to this crime would meet severe punishments.