A Nadi man who lured a woman into his car, coaxed her with alcohol, and then raped her while she was intoxicated has been jailed for nine years.
Ravi Prasad, a driver by profession, appeared before Justice Aruna Aluthge at the High Court in Lautoka on March 12.
He must serve seven years before he is eligible for parole.
The court heard that on June 11, 2023, Prasad called the victim and convinced her he had picked her up in the past. Once she was in his car, he gave her alcohol and befriended her.
Justice Aluthge said that Prasad drank with the victim while driving, an act the woman deemed unsafe before the pair moved to her flat.
“She invited you to her flat to continue drinking. At the flat, you mixed whisky and rum and made her drunk,” Justice Aluthge said.
The victim eventually fell asleep. It was then that Prasad proceeded to rape her.
In sentencing, Justice Aluthge condemned the premeditated nature of the crime and the significant age gap between the 40-year-old offender and the victim, who is in her mid-20s.
“The victim invited you to drink and socialise at her flat because she trusted you. You breached that trust,” Justice Aluthge said.
“After the offence, the victim had no option but to relocate to her brother’s place and vacate her job.”
His lawyer submitted that Prasad was a first-time offender and the sole breadwinner for his wife, two children, and an ailing father suffering from heart and kidney disease.
Character references from community and religious leaders were also presented.
Prasad has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
