The state has requested for the harshest sentence to be delivered to military officer Rajiv Padhyachi convicted of attempted murder.

The state has requested that harsh sentence should be delivered against military officer Rajiv Padhyachi who is convicted of attempted murder.

Padhyachi was convicted on the 29th of last month whereby the judge agreed with the unanimous opinion of the assessors.

The state has asked for a 12-20 year imprisonment term for Padhyachi with a non-parole period to be set.

In their submission, the DPP’s office submitted that the court should set precedence for deterrence of such acts and it should serve as a warning to would-be offenders.

The court heard the victim was in a relationship with a man who pre-meditated her murder for monetary gain.

State also stated the attempt to murder the vulnerable is a worrying issue and it was fortunate that police officers were at the scene and helped the victim who would have died otherwise.

The counsel also said that military officers are trained to protect the country and its citizens but Padhyachi did otherwise.

Defense in its mitigation submission requested the judge to consider a lenient sentence and an imprisonment term of less than three years.

Defense submitted that Padhyachi is a valued member of the Fiji Military Force as well.

Padhyachi will be sentenced next Tuesday.