Father who raped 14-year-old daughter sentenced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment

• Admits to the charge, says he was not in right mind when the rape was done 

By Bhagya Silva

Colombo High Court sentenced a father who pleaded guilty to raping his 14-year-old daughter to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. As the accused admitted to the charge before court, the sentence was imposed without any fine or compensation order. 

According to the facts revealed, during the December school holidays in 2018, the accused had raped his 14-year-old daughter when no one else was at home. He had also intimidated the victim and restrained her, warning her not to reveal the incident to anyone. 

After some time, the child’s mother noticed physical changes in her daughter and questioned her. When it became evident that the girl was pregnant. After that, the victim disclosed that her father had abused her and threatened her not to tell anyone. The mother had then confronted the accused, but he, too, had threatened her not to report the matter. 

After the child was born, hospital authorities informed the police as the victim was a minor. 

The accused father told court that following an accident, he had been unable to work and had been mentally distressed and that the incident had occurred while he was under the influence of alcohol. He claimed that he had not committed the act with any conscious intention, expressed remorse and stated that he was pleading guilty to the charge. 

After that the accused had pleaded guilty, the Colombo High Court Judge Rashmi Singappuli imposed a sentence of 12 years of rigorous imprisonment.