Filipe Kepa

48-year-old Filipe Kepa who has been convicted of two counts of rape, one count of sexual assault and another count of pornographic activities involving juveniles has today being sentenced to 15 years and 4 months in prison.

Kepa raped his 15-year-old niece a number of times from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2013 in Sigatoka.

He also participated in a video recording of pornographic activities involving the victim.

While handing down his sentence today, Lautoka High Court Judge Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena says that Kepa breached the trust of the victim who referred to him as her uncle.

Justice Wimalasena says Kepa used his esteemed public persona to gain the trust of the victim as he was in a position of authority.

The Judge also says the 48-year-old had a responsibility to protect the victim but instead he violated that trust and exploited the relationship for his personal sexual gratification.

The victim was 15 years old and Kepa was 42 years old at the time.

Justice Wimalasena says that in the victim impact statement she stated the incident has haunted her life for the last five years.

He further says the actions of the former Military Officer are disturbing and abhorrent.

Justice Wimalasena says that Kepa has demonstrated a heartless disregard for the victim by making a pornographic video recording.

A non-parole period of 12 years has also been set.