51yr-old man jailed for sexually assaulting his niece in 2014

A 51-year-old man has been jailed by the Nausori Magistrates Court for sexually assaulting his niece in 2014. 

In his sentence, Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne said the victim was having chest pain in school and went to the uncle’s house with her brother for a massage.

The Magistrate said the uncle would massage and sexually assault the woman.

It happened for two days.

Somaratne said the woman was consenting because the man told her that she was possessed by demons.

The Magistrate considered that the victim was 19 years old and at that time the man was 46 years old putting significant age difference between the parties.

He said by committing the offence the man breached the trust of the woman.

Magistrate Somaratne said instead of relieving the woman’s  suffering, the man put her to more misery by subjecting her to sexual abuse.

The man has been sentenced to 5 years 6 months imprisonment with a non‑parole period of 5 years.

A permanent domestic violence restraining order has also been issued for the safety of the victim.