A 53-year-old root crop farmer wanted to use his “man of God” title to avoid a prison term but was instead jailed by the High Court in Labasa for 15 years for sexually abusing his 14-year-old niece.
The man was convicted of three counts of serious sexual offending, including child rape, committed throughout 2021. Justice Lee James Burney said the victim’s mother had entrusted her care to the church pastor who systematically abused that family trust.
During sentencing on Friday last week, the victim’s own words were read aloud.
She stated that as a pastor, the man was supposed to practise what he preached and protect her like his own child, rather than causing her ongoing psychological trauma.
The defence sought mitigation by stating that the accused is a married father of six, no criminal record.
However, the prosecution emphasised the severe vulnerability of the young victim and the prolonged nature of the abuse.
The judge firmly rejected any leniency based on religious status.
Addressing his church background, Justice Burney agreed it should not impact the objective gravity of the crimes, observing that “it is often the most pious that have feet of clay”.
He was handed an aggregate sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
Accounting for four months already spent on remand, the judge set a non-parole period of nine years and six months to encourage rehabilitation.
A permanent domestic violence restraining order was also issued to protect the complainant.
