SENTENCE OF 7 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE WOEFULLY INADEQUATE

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Christopher Pryde (pictured above), has indicated that the State will appeal against the 7-year sentence handed down to Chen Wen Jianon Tuesday (15.1.13) by the High Court in Lautoka.

Mr Pryde said “It is important that a strong message is sent to men who rape women and children and a sentence of 7 years for child rape is woefully inadequate.The State will be appealing this manifestly lenient sentence.”

A non-parole period was not set which means that Chen Wen Jian is eligible for release after two- thirds of his sentence has been served. He has been on remand since 2010 which means he is eligible for parole in 2 years.

Mr Pryde said that “in reality, Chen Wen Jian will serve little more than 4 years for the rape of a child when the maximum sentence for rape under the Crimes Decree is life imprisonment.”

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