Father jailed for raping wife and daughter
Lenlen Leleny Ansen pleaded guilty to two charges of sexual intercourse without consent, and a charge of incest.
The maximum sentence for all 3 charges is life imprisonment however 16 years’ imprisonment was adopted as the starting point.
The mitigating factors are as follows: early guilty plea, unemployed, maintain the family by his farming and deep-sea diving, no previous convictions, performed a custom reconciliation ceremony, Elder in the local church and his chief speaks highly of him.
The end sentence is 10 years and 4 months’ imprisonment on all 3 charges.
Man lies to obtain money for music career
Polycarpe Rory pleaded guilty to 3 charges of obtaining money by deception.
The maximum sentence for obtaining money by deception is 12 years’ imprisonment, however 3 years imprisonment was adopted as the starting point.
The mitigating factors are as follows: pleaded guilty early, 33 years old, and no previous convictions, willing to perform a custom reconciliation ceremony and unemployed.
The end sentence is 2 years’ imprisonment, on charges 1 and 3. On charge 2, he was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment.
Too immature to sentence for theft
Trevor Kalo pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful entry and a second charge of theft.
The maximum sentence for unlawful entry of a dwelling house is 20 years’ imprisonment; and for theft it is 12 years’ imprisonment. However, 32 months’ imprisonment was adopted as the starting point.
The mitigating factors are as follows: pleaded guilty early, 17 years old, single, no previous convictions, doesn’t have privilege of higher education, help his family by gardening and fishing and willing to do a custom reconciliation ceremony.
The end sentence is set at 6 months’ imprisonment on both charges concurrently. However, the court suspended his sentence for 2 years.
17-year-old student on-off relationship ended with sexual intercourse
John Johnny pleaded guilty to threatening language and sexual intercourse, where consent was obtained by threat of intimidation.
Sexual intercourse with consent by means of threat of intimidation has a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The maximum sentence for threatening language is 3 years’ imprisonment. However, the court adopted starting sentence of 6 years 6 months’ imprisonment.
The mitigating factors are as follows: early guilty plea, no previous convictions, perform a custom reconciliation ceremony, 17 years old at the time of the offending, and a student.
The end sentence is 2 years and 4 months’ imprisonment on the sexual intercourse charge. In respect of the threatening language charge, the court imposed a sentence of 3 months imprisonment, to be served concurrently.
Man charged for indecency with 14-year-old girl
Lazard Edison Gideon pleaded guilty to an act of indecency with a young person.
An act of indecency with a young person is punishable by maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The starting point for the sentence is 2 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.
The mitigating factors are as follows: early guilty plea, first time offender, 27 years old, earns his income through selling copra and raising livestock, was elected President of the local youth centre and participates in Church activities as a member of the Catholic Church.
The end sentence is therefore 1 year and 8 months’ imprisonment.
Supervision and community work for teenage boy who caused a permanent injury
Rosen Lauto pleaded guilty to a charge of intentional assault causing permanent injury.
The maximum sentence for this offending is 10 years’ imprisonment, however 2 years and 6 months was adopted as the starting point. The mitigating factors are as follows: early guilty plea, no previous convictions, perform a custom reconciliation ceremony and was 17 years at the time of the offending.
The end sentence is 12 months of supervision with the special condition that he attends and successfully completes the Niu Rod programme. He is additionally ordered to complete 100 hours of community work.
22-year-old father charged for indecency
Kevin Tabilebo Tariodo pleaded guilty to a charge of doing an act of indecency with a young person under the age 15 years.
The maximum penalty for this offending is 10 years imprisonment. However, the starting point for the sentence is 3 years’ imprisonment.
The mitigating factors are as follows: early guilty plea, 24 years, has been in two de-facto relationships, both now over, and he has a 4-year old son, performed a custom reconciliation ceremony and has no previous convictions.
The end sentence is 18 months’ imprisonment.
Source: Vanuatu Daily Post