A Ba man charged with raping his 13 year old daughter last year will spend 12 years of his life behind bars.

Lautoka High court Judge, Justice Paul Madigan started the sentence at 15 years however reduced it to 12 years saying that the man pleaded guilty to his crime when he first appeared in court and is remorseful.

Justice Madigan in his sentence said that the 40 year old farmer who is the victims stepfather had asked the Court for forgiveness and produced in Court a letter of reference from the head of the Tavua circuit of the Methodist Church which tells about his family circumstances, including the poverty faced by the family if he is removed from them, and it also states that he has commenced training as a junior lay preacher.

However Justice Madigan sentenced the farmer saying that rape of children in Fiji is becoming far too prevalent.

He added that it is profoundly sad that girls of school age at an extremely vulnerable stage in their development should have to suffer the crushing indignity of this offence.

He also ordered that the man will have to spend 10 years in prison before he can apply for parole and he has 30 days to appeal the sentence.

The farmer raped his step daughter on 23rd May last year while her mother went to town leaving her daughter in his care.


Story by: Sneh Chaudhry