A taxi driver from Matautu Lefaga has been jailed for two years for picking an underage girl who was going to training and committed a sexual act on her in 2018. 

Fidelis Eti Ken, a 33-year-old father and taxi driver, was convicted and sentenced by Justice Leiataualesa on Tuesday afternoon to two years imprisonment. 

Represented by lawyer Leota Tima Leavai, the defendant vacated his guilty plea and pleaded not guilty to one count of unlawful sexual connection with the 15-year-old girl at the time. 

The court heard that the taxi driver had picked up the victim in a village nearby Apia, while she was going to train and swim, on 29 December 2018. 

The taxi driver lied to the young girl and told her to go for a ride. 

He later took her to an isolated location and committed the offense and had left her there with a woman that he had paid money to. 

In her victim impact report, the girl now 17 years of age said she is angry with what happened to her and being abandoned by the defendant. 

Having considered the aggravating factors, Justice Leiataualesa adopted a three years starting point for sentencing. 

He then deducted six months for prior good character and four months for reconciliation with the family of the young girl. 

The defendant has been sentenced to two years and two months imprisonment minus time being remanded in custody. 

The prosecutor is Attorney General’s Office lawyer Ann Matalasi.