A 42-year-old father of eight has been sentenced to 14-years imprisonment for raping his 17-year- old niece on an island in the Eastern division in 2016.

The court heard that on 15th October 2016, the man had requested the victim to wash his clothes at his place when his wife was away in Suva.

On the day of the incident, the man sent his 12-year-old daughter out of the house while the victim was washing clothes inside the bathroom.

He entered the bathroom and forcefully raped the 17-year-old.

High court Judge Justice Riyaz Hamza said that the shameful act done by the 42-year-old robbed the innocence of his niece.

The court heard that the victim has been emotionally and psychologically traumatized and has flashbacks of the painful experience.

Justice Hamza said being the maternal uncle of the complainant he should have protected her, however he breached the trust.

The High court Judge also said that this was pre planning on his part to commit the offence.

The man had spent three months in remand and now has to serve 13-years and nine months imprisonment with a non-parole period of 11 years and nine months.