A man was sentenced today to seven-years imprisonment for raping a young girl in Tongatapu in 2019.

The Chief Justice ordered that the complainant's identity and her evidence taken in the trial shall not be published.

The accused man was found guilty on two counts of rape, after a trial at the Supreme Court in May.

Lord Chief Justice Whitten sentenced the rapist to seven-years imprisonment on each count, to be served concurrently (seven-years in total).

He ordered that the final 18-months of his sentence be suspended for two-years.

This was on conditions that during suspension, the man must not commit any offences punishable by imprisonment; must not consume alcohol/ illicit drugs and must attend and complete courses on alcohol awareness and sexual abuse, among other requirements.

Failure to perform any of the conditions might result in his return to prison to complete the suspended part of his imprisonment sentence.