Justice Robert Shuster imposed a four years suspended sentence on a 48-year-old father from Ha'ateiho who was convicted of incest and indecent assault,  which he committed on his two daughters in 2008.

Tevita Vake was sentenced on February 3 at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa after he was found guilty on both charges, by Justice Shuster on January 18.

He was sentenced to three years on the indecent assault count and one year for incest. However, the whole sentence was suspended for a period of three years due to his good work in his community and other references, that included him being the sole breadwinner of the family and that he took care of his disabled son and mother.

The suspended sentence required that he does not commit any offences during his three years probation.

Justice Shuster told the convicted father that indecent assault is a very serious crime and he convicted him because he believed the two victims evidence, which he found unwavering, and he disbelieved his.

During the trial held in November 2011, the prosecution told the court that in June 2008 Tevita committed the incest over his biological daughter at the Vaiola car park, and indecently assaulted his adopted daughter at their residence at Ha'ateiho.

The victims were around 19 and 21 years old when the offences were committed.