Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old man who was in the middle of his trial on the charge of raping his daughter, was sent to prison for 18 years plus 10 strokes of the cane.
Sessions Court Judge Zaini Fishir meted out the sentence when he changed his plea after the prosecution called five witnesses during the trial.
The man pleaded guilty to committing incest against his 13 years and 11 months old daughter between 10.30am and 11.15am on Apr 23 this year in the room of a house in Putatan.
He committed the offence under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of between eight and 30 years and whipping of at least 10 strokes, on conviction.
The court ordered the man to serve the jail sentence from May 23 this year.
During mitigation, the man who was not represented, asked for a light sentence saying that he regretted his wrongdoing and apologised for that.
He also told the court that he has young children to care for and suffers from hypertension.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugenie A. Gilbert urged the court to impose a severe sentence on the grounds that the man had raped his daughter.
Eugenie further submitted that the man was supposed to protect the victim from being sexually exploited but he was the one who destroyed the future of his daughter.
She added that the man should have been someone who guided the victim, given the significant role he played in her life.
