A 54-year-old watchman has been sentenced to 13 years and 9 months in prison for the digital rape of a 4-year-old girl.
The incident took place at a accomodation premises on Waimanu Road, Suva on March 2, 2025.
The victim, who had been attending a church service with her family, wandered into the basement of the premises where the accused was employed.
According to court documents, the victim’s 13-year-old sister discovered the assault.
“She was an innocent child who briefly went out of sight of her parents,” said Justice Daniel Goundar in his August 19 ruling.
“The accused’s engagement in his unilateral sexual activity with a little girl who was insensitive to such activity is most abhorrent.”
“The courts are increasingly confronted with cases of sexual exploitation of vulnerable young children by adult men.”
“Lenient punishments are not an option.”
Justice Goundar adopted an 11-year starting point for the sentence, adding 4 years for aggravating factors, deducting 1 year for the mitigating factor, and reducing 3 months for time spent in custody.
The accused was sentenced to 13 years and 9 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 11 years
