A 32-year-old labourer has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment after the High Court in Lautoka found him guilty of multiple counts of rape and indecent assault.
The matter was called before High Court Judge Justice Aruna Aluthge early this week.
The Court heard that the accused committed this offence on a vulnerable victim when she was alone in the forest and that he assaulted the victim not only sexually but also physically when the accused punched, stripped the victim and caused her some injuries.
Justice Aluthge said the accused planned this offence and secretly followed the victim into the forest.
He said that the accused prevented the victim from seeking help by blocking her mouth when she was crying for help and that there was a considerable age gap between the accused and the 24-year-old victim.
The accused has been sentenced to an imprisonment term of nine years with a non-parole period of seven years.
He has been given 30 days to appeal the matter.
