Kota Kinabalu: A 34-year-old man who raped his stepdaughter twice, was jailed to 22 years plus 20 strokes of the cane.
Sessions Court Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan meted out the sentence to the man who pleaded guilty to two charges against him on Tuesday.
On the first count, the man was sentenced to 10 years and ordered to get 10 strokes of the cane for raping the 14 years and two months’ old girl at 6pm on Apr 22 this year at a house in Papar.
On the second count, he was sent to prison for another 12 years plus 10 strokes of the cane for raping the same victim at 3am on May 20 this year inside a car parked in front of a house in Lok Kawi, Papar.
SPONSORED CONTENT Shell’s Access to Energy helps power lives of isolated communities in Sabah Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid. Read more The offence framed under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code carries 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 consecutively and was ordered placed under police supervision for two years after serving the jail sentence.
The vehicle, which was seized, should be returned to the rightful owner by police.
In meting out the sentence, the court said it was a serious offence and the accused had committed the offence against the victim several times which traumatised her.
The court agreed with the prosecution that these incidents cannot be undone in any way.
The court added that it was a huge responsibility as a stepfather to protect the victim from any harm and not took advantage of her.
The court hoped that sentence would serve as a lesson and deterrent to the accused and public at large.
Earlier during mitigation, the man who was not represented, asked for leniency saying that he has wife and small children to look after.
He informed the court that he really regretted his wrongdoing and promised to not repeat the offence.
The man also asked for the sentence to be run concurrently.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Najihah Farhana Che Awang urged the court to impose a heavy sentence on the man on the grounds that it was a serious offence involving a stepfather who should protect the victim from any harm or trauma instead of taking advantage of her.
Nur Najihah submitted that the victim has to live with the trauma of being raped by her own stepfather on her own in her entire life.
She added that these incidents cannot be compensated in any way and also cannot be undone in any way to relieve the victim of her trauma.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
