Judge's gavel in courtroom - (Photo: Courtesy).

The Juvenile Court in Juba on Monday sentenced an adolescent boy to six months in reformatory school for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl.

The court also ordered the boy’s guardian to pay SSP.300,000 to the court as a fine and SSP.700,000 as reparation to the survivor.

The juvenile convict, whose name has been withheld, committed the crime at Kator in April 2022.

Judge Andrew Joshua Lado sentenced him after he confessed to having abused the girl several times.

“The child in conflict with the law be sent to six months in a reformatory school effective from today the 3rd of April 2023 according to section 181 of child act 2008 for violating section 247 of South Sudan penal act 2008.”

“The guardian of the child in conflict with the law is to pay a fine tone 300.000 and 700.000 as compensation to be paid through civil means. The two parties have the right to appeal within 15 days.”

Reacting to the court decision, the survivor’s father whose has not been identified, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying the defendant is not an underage.

He said they will appeal against the verdict, which he said encourages other young men to commit such crimes.

“For the verdict, it is unfair. The accused is over twenty years old. I do not think that the six-month sentence is appropriate for the crime he committed,” he said.

“I demand a retrial because I feel it is unjust. I appeal to the authority, with the rise in sexual assault cases in the country, the punishment must be severe so that others do not repeat such behavior. And it is a deterrent ruling for others, so I do not think that the six-month rule is easy.

According to section 26 of the child act 2008, every child has a right to be protected from sexual abuse and exploitation, and gender-based violence, including rape, incest, early and forced marriage, and female circumcision.