A man who raped his biological daughter when she was six years and 10 months old in 2010 has been sentenced to 16-years in prison after an appeal.

The man was initially sentenced to 20-years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years by the Lautoka High court in 2013.

He was convicted of two counts of rape.

The victim lived with her two siblings, father, uncle and paternal grandmother when the man raped her on two occasions.

The court heard that at the time of the trial proceedings she was staying a children’s home in Nadi.

The man appealed against his conviction and sentence.

One of his grounds of appeal was that the sentence was harsh and excessive and worn gin all the circumstances of the case.

The Appeals court Judges said the High court Judge had failed to disclose the reasoning that led to the length of the sentence imposed.

The Appeals courts Judges also said that 20 years imprisonment passed on the appellant is clearly outside the established tariff for rape of a child.

The appeal against the sentence was allowed and the sentence passed by the High court was set aside.

The man will now serve 16-years behind bars with a non-parole period of 14-years.