The state will appeal a rape sentence handed down by the Lautoka High last month.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde says the accused was earlier convicted of the rape of a 12-year-old child in 2013.

He was sentenced to three year imprisonment by the Lautoka High Court on 8th February 2019.

Pryde says the sentence was manifestly lenient given the recent Supreme Court decision setting the tariff for child rape between 11 and 20 years imprisonment.

He says the court had not properly considered relevant aggravating factors when handing down the sentence.

The Notice of Appeal against the sentence was filed in the Court of Appeal yesterday afternoon.