A 19-year-old has been ordered to refrain from watching pornography in any form as part of a suspended prison sentence for raping his five-year-old cousin.
Justice Pita Bulamainaivalu further ordered that the uncle and the mother of the youth strictly supervise him in this regard. This was one of the nine orders issued earlier this month in the High Court in Suva, where the youth’s 18-month prison sentence was suspended for three years.
The youth was 17 at the time of the offence when the victim was playing alone in a village in October of 2024.
According to court records, the youth has a learning disability and also suffers from a speech impediment, causing him difficulty in formulating his thoughts into constructive sentences and communicating effectively.
The court noted that statutory limitations under the Juvenile Act dictates that a young person cannot be ordered to be imprisoned for more than two years for any offence.
The court also noted the youth is under a prior 18-month peace bond from April 2026 for a separate offence of indecently insulting a person.
Justice Bulamainaivalu said that due to the youth’s offence, it was vital that he be taught and guided on how to treat females and children decently and respectfully. He said failure to properly address such concerns could be perilous to the community, in particular, females and children, who were the usual vulnerable members of society.
To ensure rehabilitation and community safety, the court has ordered that the youth be counselled by the Social Welfare Department in the presence of his uncle and mother to help him avoid being in conflict with the law.
