A 64-year-old male from Temotu Province has been sentenced to two years and 7 months of imprisonment for attempting to rape an 11-year-old girl.
High Court Judge Justice John Keniapisia issued the sentence recently, following the defendant’s charge by the Lata Police station for attempted rape, as per section 136(3) of the Penal Code, amended Sexual Act 2016.
The incident occurred in June 2021 in Temotu when the defendant was 62 years old, and the victim was 11 years old. The defendant and the victim’s mother are cousins.
According to the evidence the victim was passing by the defendant’s son’s home when he called her to bring him lime for his betelnut.
Subsequently, he instructed the young victim to fetch him fire for smoking. The defendant and the victim were sitting on the veranda when the defendant grabbed the 11-year-old victim and pulled her into the room where he attempted to rape her.
The child disclosed the traumatic incident to a close relative, who then informed her mother. The mother promptly reported the incident to the Lata police.
The defense counsel for the case is Donation Houa, while the crown representatives are John Wesly Zoze and Martha Mutukera.
