Akbar calls for harsher rape sentences

Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar is calling for harsher sentences for rapists.

She says they have come across many victims who feel they have been denied justice in terms of the punishment given to offenders.

Akbar is also urging authorities to look at cases of sexual abuse and domestic violence with a sense of urgency and priority as she believes that this is not happening at the moment.

She says they are flooded with reports of domestic violence.

Akbar says they will soon be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Fiji Police Force in order to intensify their efforts in ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.      

The Ministry’s Child Services Unit has recorded 38 cases of sexual abuse in the first three months of this year.

Following Akbar’s statements, the Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has come out saying the Minister’s comments are inappropriate.

Pryde says sentencing is a judicial function and undertaken carefully by the courts upon conviction of an accused person in accordance with the Sentencing and Penalties Decree 2009 and the relevant judicial tariffs for the offence.

He says courts impose sentences that reflect the seriousness of the offending and take into account the various aggravating and mitigating factors particular to each individual case.

The DPP adds the decision to charge a person is made following a careful review of the evidence and charges are only brought if there is a reasonable prospect of a conviction and it is in the public interest.

Pryde adds their office will not tolerate any interference in this process by any Minister of Government.