A Fiji court has sent a strong public message by sentencing a rapist to 16 years' imprisonment.
The Fiji Sun reports the High Court in Labasa yesterday sentenced 24-year-old Semi Rainima for an incident in 2009.
The victim, who fell pregnant after the incident, was a young high school student.
In handing down the sentence yesterday, Justice Paul Madigan said the public was losing patience with rapists and there was little evidence brought to mitigate the offence, apart from a previous clear record.
Two years were added to the 12-year sentence due to the resulting pregnancy and three more years were added for breach of trust, as the offender is the son of a pastor.
The Fiji Sun reports Rainima will have to serve 14 years before being eligible for parole.
