A six-years imprisonment sentence was imposed on a 49-year-old father on numerous charges of incest and indecent assault, that he had repeatedly committed on his young daughter from 2005-09.

Tevita Valikoula, who denied the offences, appeared before Justice Robert Shuster this morning May 2, at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa.

He was sentenced on five counts that included four charges of indecent assault of a child under 12-years-old and one charge of incest.

He was found guilty and convicted on the five charges in a trial held earlier this year, before Justice Shuster, who initially sentenced the offender to eight years imprisonment and suspended the final two years, due to mitigating factors including that he was a first time offender.

This meant he would serve six years at Hu'atolitoli Prison effective today, but backdated to when he was first remanded in police custody, on April 13 this year.

Deterrent

However, the judge emphasized the "serious breach of trust" by the father in committing these offences on his own daughter. "The sentence imposed is a deterrent sentence to prevent other people from committing these crimes," said Justice Shuster.

The court was told that the offences took place at their home and the mother was understood to be living overseas. The offender continuously committed this conduct starting in 2005, when the victim was under 12-years-old and was only in Primary School. It continued over the years and it was not until February, 2011 that the young girl bravely reported the matter to the police.

This is the second case of incest to have received a sentence at the Supreme Court, this year.

The convicted father was represented by counsel Sifa Tu'utafaiva.