25-year-old rapist jailed [1]
Thursday, November 5, 2020 - 18:22
'Ikani Pailate (25) has been jailed for raping a 38-year-old woman in Tongatapu last year.
Hon Mr Justice Cato sentenced the accused to three-years nine-months imprisonment, at the Nuku’alofa Supreme Court.
The serious offence occurred during a drink-up at a tax allotment on October 20, 2019.
Of the sentence imposed, the final 15-months was suspended on conditions.
The Crown said, the judge set a starting point of six-years imprisonment but entered reductions due to the accused early guilty plea, remorse and having no previous conviction.
The sentence was backdated to when he was first detained in police custody.
The court supressed the publication of the victim's identity and evidence.