Two people in the Federated States of Micronesia have been sentenced to nearly eight years jail time after being found guilty of human trafficking.
Photo: 123rf
A Supreme Court judge sentenced Jayson Jappan and Anreta Fret to seven years and eight months behind bars.
A trial last month found the two guilty of Human Trafficking, Trafficking in Children, Aggravated Human Trafficking and Conspiracy.
The offences began when the defendants conspired to sexually abuse and exploit a child when she was nine years old and living with them on the island of Fananu in Chuuk State.
In addition to imprisonment, the judge also ordered the two to each pay $US40,000 in restitution to the now 15-year-old victim.
The court found that, due to the sexual abuse and exploitation, the child became pregnant by Jappan.
During trial the Court also found that Fret was equally culpable for the crimes as she knew and supported Jappan's actions.
The combined $US80,000 in restitution imposed by the Court is one of the largest in FSM history.