Nine years’ jail for rapist during COVID-19 lockdown

Feb 26, 2025 | News | 0

A man was sent to 9 years and 16 days in prison for raping a child under the age of 13 at Teouma Dark Bush on Efate during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Supreme Court heard that in March 2022, Jimmy Nampas’s daughter visited the victim and asked her to follow her home to prepare and cook simboro. Nampas, who was at home at that time, sent her daughter to a distant shop, and told the victim to stay behind.

He then asked the victim to go into a traditionally built house and that he would give her some money, which he did not. He then put a mat on the floor and had intercourse with her twice.

The court heard the victim suffered pain and was afraid of what he had done to her. She returned home and went straight to her room crying as it was painful. She then spent a few days staying in her room.

The maximum penalty for unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under 13 years of age is imprisonment for life.

After considering the aggravating factors, Chief Justice Vincent Lunabek gave Nampas a sentence with a starting point of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The accused had a previous criminal conviction for theft and threatening language and had received a fine of VT4,000 in the Magistrate Court.

He pleaded not guilty to the two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, but the court found him guilty. The judgement was handed down in December.

The Chief Justice gave him two months’ reduction for the delay in the prosecution of the case and a further five months and 14 days for his time spent in custody.

Nampas is married with seven children and six grandchildren.

He was given 14 days to appeal the sentence.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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