A MAN who fathered four children with his own daughter in a 20-year ordeal which began in 1989 has been handed a 16-year jail term by the High Court in Suva.
The man pleaded guilty to five counts of incest and admitted he started sexually abusing his daughter in 1989 when she was 18 years old.
Justice Salesi Temo told the man, "from 1989 to 2009, you deliberately turned (her) world into a living hell".
"You treated her, not as a daughter, but as a sex object," he said.
"You repeatedly forced her to have sexual intercourse with you in the early hours of the morning, when your wife and family were fast asleep, in your family house.
"You repeatedly forced her to go to the family gardens, away from the prying eyes of others, and repeatedly had sex with her.
"She was afraid to tell anyone, because you threatened her.
"When she refused to have sex with you, you often assaulted her repeatedly.
"She complained to her mother but she did nothing because they feared you.
"You completely dominated her life. She knew no other man but you.
"You left her no room to live."
Justice Temo told the man this was a case involving a serious breach of parental trust.
"You have deliberately blurred the role of a father and grandfather vis-a-vis your daughter and your children and grandchildren.
"Your eldest child with your daughter is now suicidal.
"You have ruined your family.
"They lived in fear of you, because you continually assaulted them, if they argued against you.
"You dominated not only your daughter's life, but your whole family's life and instead of being a pillar of strength to your family, you continued to undermine them.
"Your daughter has had enough of it, and she has asked that the full brunt of the law be brought on you," he said.