The Supreme Court in Tonga has sentenced a man to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple counts of unlawful carnal knowledge, rape and incest.
The last two years of his sentence will be suspended.
According to Kaniva News, Justice Cato, who presided over the case, described the offending as serious.
He said he had recently had to deal with a number of cases of this kind.
‘Elevisi Mo’unga, 46, pleaded guilty to two counts of carnal knowledge of a child contrary to section 121(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, two counts of rape contrary to section 118(1) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, incest by male contrary to section 132 of the Criminal Offences Act, indecent assault of a child under the age of 12 contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Offences Act, two counts of carnal knowledge of a young person contrary to section 121(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, and counts of serious indecent assault contrary to section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act, and one of indecent assault.
Mo’unga was arrested in October last year and has been remanded in custody ever since.
The court was told that one of his victims had been mentally and emotionally seriously affected and since disappeared from view.
Mr Justice Cato said although the victim reported the matter to police and the accused admitted the offence, the complaint was never dealt with because it was not handled properly by one officer and then dealt with incompetently by another.
“As a result, the prisoner was not charged until another series of sexual offences had been committed,” the judge said.
“This would have been avoided had action been taken promptly.”
Mo’unga was sentenced to 15 years with the last two years suspended on condition he does not commit any imprisonable offences, he does not reside with girls or women during the period of his suspension, he undergoes counselling for sexual abuse.