A 20-year-old man who admitted to having consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl but was convicted of defilement has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
He appeared before Justice Vinsent Perera at the High Court in Suva yesterday.
In his summing up, Justice Perera said the man admitted having sexual intercourse with the complainant in her mother’s room.
The incident happened in Nausori last year.
The court heard the man’s family had been living in the same compound as the complainant for the last 10 years.
The court was also told that before the incident happened the complainant was in a relationship with the man for more than one-year and had also had sex with her on three occasions before the incident.
Justice Perera said the Prosecution failed to present credible evidence and the man’s conviction was based on mere admissions.
In mitigation, the court heard the man was remorseful and cooperated with police following his arrest.
The court also heard that following his admissions, he had informed the court that he was willing to plead guilty for the lesser offence of defilement.
He has been sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
The man will only serve two months while remaining time has been suspended.
