FIJI: Grandpa gets two years imprisonment for defiling grand-daughter aged 10

. SUVA, Fiji / Fiji Times / February 14, 2009 By Serafina Silaitoga A 73-year old man who undressed his 10-year-old grand-daughter and kissed her was sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Labasa court yesterday. The grandfather, who lives at Wainikoro outside Labasa town, appeared before magistrate Penijamini Lomaloma. The court heard that between February 1 and 18 in 2006, the grandfather who limped about the Labasa courthouse yesterday, undressed his grand-daughter, kissed her, touched her breasts and vagina and then undressed himself and lay on top of her. Mr Lomaloma told the grandfather he committed the offence against his grand-daughter and it was a grave breach of trust. "Old men who prey on young girls are particularly abhorred in all societies and those who prey on their own grand-daughters are lower still." In mitigation the grandfather asked the court for a suspended sentence because he was old, widowed and had seven children. He told the court he suffered from high blood pressure and lived at Wainikoro so that he could be near the hospital. "You are 73 years old and sickly and had asked the court for a suspended sentence. "However, I cannot do so because section 29 (3) of the Penal Code provides that a suspended sentence is not available as stipulated in Section 29 (3) of the Penal Code," Mr Lomaloma said. "However, I consider your old age and illness to be sufficient special factors to reduce this sentence and therefore I sentence you to two years in prison," said Mr Lomaloma. Copyright © 2004 - 2007, Fiji Times Limited