The Supreme Court in Tonga has sentenced a father to nine years and nine months imprisonment after convicting him of incest, sexual assault and domestic violence.
The offences took place between December 2016 and January 2017.
In his report on the trial, Justice Charles Cato said the acts had been carried out on the man’s daughter.
The accused is married with three children. He lived in the former family home. He had two other children including the complainant, by his first marriage.
Kaniva News reports he had a number of convictions for dishonesty dating back to 1992, several for housebreaking and theft including one in 1998 when he received an eight year sentence.
He also had one conviction for growing Indian hemp and possession.
In 2007, he was again convicted of theft and manslaughter by negligence for which he was sentenced to three and half years imprisonment.
He had committed four acts of incest, the first of which occurred while his wife was asleep in the next room.
He had threatened to beat her if she did not smoke methamphetamine, strangled her and threatened to disfigure her with a pair of scissors.
“The impression I got at trial was that he was an authoritarian, dominating personality, not without cunning and able to present a more affable personality when required,” Justice Cato said.
“The complainant was put through a frightening and humiliating experience.
“I do not consider there are any mitigating features. The prisoner in his probation report and again at sentence did not improve his position by continuing to maintain his denial.”