BY JENNIFER KUSAPA
A 46-year-old man found guilty of sexually assaulting his niece has been sent to jail for 18 months.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Ricky Iomea in sentencing the accused said the victim was feeling unwell and the uncle offered to massage her and then sexually assaulted her by touching her private part.
He said the offence is a serious one as the victim at the time of incidence was 12 years of age and the accused was a person of trust.
This incident occurred at West Kolaridge in Honiara on an unknown date between January 1 and December 31, 2018.
DCM Iomea said after that incident the victim felt unsafe and reported the matter to the police.
Iomea said during the incident, the victim was sick and lying in her room at home. She woke up and saw that the room door was open with the accused standing there.
The accused asked her of how she felt; in response the victim said that she was weak and her body tired.
It was at that time the accused offered to massage the victim.
The victim then lied on the floor and the accused massaged her. He started by massaging the victim’s legs then proceeded up to her thighs. It was at this time the accused slipped his figures into the victim’s clothes and touched the victim’s private part.
DCM Iomea said after assessing and considering both submissions made from the prosecution and defence lawyers, he is of the view that a sentence of 18 months is appropriate on the case.
Therefore, he imposed a sentence of 18 months with the sentence to be include the period the accused had already spent in custody.
Office of the Director Public Prosecution appears for the crown on the case.
