A 20-year-old man who raped his 10-year-old cousin in Yasawa in 2015 has been given 16 years and 10 months jail term by the Lautoka High Court.
While sentencing the man, Justice Sunil Sharma says the man abused the sanctity of the relationship that exists between the two.
Justice Sharma says the man and the girl were staying together in one house where she was expected to be safe.
The Judge adds the girl has mentioned in the victim impact statement that after the incident she is ashamed to face people, emotionally hurt and cannot live a normal happy life.
He says the man cannot be forgiven for what he has done to the girl.
A non-parole period of 12 years has been set.
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