2yrs jail time after cuts for raping niece
A MAN in his 20s who admitted to raping his under-age niece in 2018 was yesterday told that he had abused his position of trust and dependency.
The Buimo National Court told him that there should be a strong deterrent sentence as the offence was become prevalent in Lae and that the maximum penalty for that type of crime was 25 years in jail.
However, Justice John Kaumi gave him eight years, but after deductions and suspension of part of the sentence, he would spend a maximum of two years in prison.
The judge deducted two years, a month and 17 days for his time in custody and suspended three years, 10 months and 11 days tied in with a good behaviour bond, giving him a balance of two years to serve with hard labour.
The court heard that the man raped his niece, 12 years old at the time, at Pelgens Compound, 9-Mile, outside Lae.
Justice Kaumi said when sentencing the man: “I took into consideration that you have pleaded guilty early, expressed remorse to the victim’s family who are also your family. The court finds your apology genuine that you have saved the court time and the victim’s misery to testify in front of all the strangers of her experience which would not be appropriate”.
“You were in a position of trust and dependency, but you abused and breached that trust as the uncle of the victim and the brother to the victim’s father,” Justice Kaumi said.
“The father of the victim is also worried about you being here in prison.”
Justice Kaumi told the man to reflect on what he did and change his ways.
6 comments
These judges are becoming too lenient on murderers and rapists and that is not a way to deter future crimes of such nature!
Committing a vicious crime must follow letter of law and punishment must equate to the crime committed. There seems to be two set of laws, one that say you commit rape the maximum punishment is 20 to 25 years in prison and another man made law says, if you admit the crime and show remorse your sentence be reduced. This is called fair judgment when the victim was forcefully penetrated and she will live with it for the rest of her. The judgement is unfair because it considers the accuser rather than the victim.
Two years is a joke. He should do at least 10 years jail time
Another one of the too lenient judgements at this court. Contradictory to his honour’s own words. How much more serious will a rape of a minor be before the sentence is upgraded.
Too lenient at this same court.
Learned Judge told criminal who raped his 12 year old niece: “..there should be a strong deterrent sentence as the offence was become prevalent in Lae and that the maximum penalty for that type of crime was 25 years in jail.”
So he sends him to jail for TWO YEARS ONLY!
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