The Gender-based violence court in Juba has sentenced a 21-year-old man to jail for defiling a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

The court convicted Justin Francis Salvador, a resident of Suk Zande of the crime to 10 years in imprisonment on Monday.

Prior to passing the verdict, the presiding Judge, Frances Amum narrated that 21-year Salvador was arrested in March this year after eloping with the girl, an offense he confessed.

Although Salvador argued he did not know the law and wanted to marry the unnamed girl, Judge Amum said his action amounted to a crime – in accordance with the law.

The GBV court also fined him one million South Sudanese Pounds as an amelioration to the victim.

“The convict is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, for defilement in contradiction of section 248 section 2 of the penal act 2008, to be served to start from 22nd June 2022,” Judge Francis Amum of GBV High Court in Juba said.

“The convict must pay the tune of 1 million South Sudanese pounds, for the amelioration of the condition of the survivor by means of civil proceedings. And, attitudes towards women and girls are rehabilitated and integrated into the society where gender equality and non-discrimination are at play,

“The convict is advised that he has a right to enjoy an automatic right of appeal against both convictions within 15 days”.

According to statutory law, defilement means any kind of sexual abuse against a person under 18 years of age regardless of his or her consent.