Sandra O’Reilly’s public ordeal is over. Justice has been seen to be done. Her four rapists have been sentenced to the full penalty: eight years imprisonment each, plus five more years for Ravi Aubeeluck, found also guilty of sodomy. Sandra is however disappointed. Nicolas Potage, who sodomized her in her home, has not been convicted for his act.

More than two years have passed since that dreadful night when two burglars, Nicolas Potage and Louis France Joson, raped Sandra in her home; they then abducted her and left her on the deserted road when the car broke down. She was waiting for help, when a car stopped and the occupants offered to help her. But two of them, Ravi Aubeeluck and Vishal Jagai took advantage of the situation and took her to a sugarcane field where they again raped her.

Magistrates Benjamin Marie Joseph and Renuka Dabee, stress in their sentence that it is meant to be an example for others who would be tempted to indulge in such an odious behaviour. “This judgment proves I was right to go through with my denunciation and I encourage every woman who has experienced such traumatising events to do so,” Sandra said, visibly relieved by the judgment…

A few days before in court, she had declared that she could never forgive - let alone forget - the distress these men had caused her. The unfortunate incident in court on Friday where Vikash Jagai (the youngest of the four – he was only 16 at the time of the rape) kicked two photographers from Le Mauricien and l’express is, on the other hand, not a good omen. Bouck Vithylingum alleges that Jagai even said he would “continue raping women.”

An example to follow

Sandra O’Reilly said she was not particularly shocked by that incident – “I see him as he was when he raped me, excited and violent.” She wonders if the rapists will get the psychological help that they obviously need in prison. “The significance of their imprisonment is that they are made aware that their behaviour was serious. And that they must not do it again.”

Although the defence lawyers elaborated on their clients’ “sincere regrets”, the magistrates have chosen to inflict the full sentence so as to deter potential rapists. “The court notes that you took advantage of a woman with no means of defending herself to satisfy yourself. This is more than a terrible crime.” Nothing can excuse such behaviour: neither the fact that the crime was not premeditated nor the fact that they have pleaded guilty.

Only time will help Sandra to turn the page on this unfortunate episode and some scars might never heal. But what should be stressed is the courage she has had to fight and especially face society. “Let’s hope that this verdict makes others think more before acting…” Sandra’s relatives declare. The irony is that the amendments to the Sexual Offence Act voted in August 2003 will not apply to Sandra’s rapists. The penalties are now more severe in cases of collective rape and go from eight to 20 years’ prison sentences.

What her courage has achieved is bringing to the forefront a crime that so many victims are scared to denounce or feel guilty about. Could it become an example to follow by other rape victims and an opportunity to establish a setup that provides help and support for such victims?