.png)
A YOUTH offender in Seremban was today ordered to be detained at the Henry Gurney School until he reaches the age of 21 after admitting to the rape of a teenage girl he had met through an online application.
Judge Datin Surita Budin handed down the sentence to the 18-year-old and 11-month-old male after he pleaded guilty to the offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code during proceedings for the social report and sentencing.
The section carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison or whipping.
The court heard that the accused raped the 16-year-old girl, an acquaintance, at a house in Taman Kemuning, Seremban, between 3.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 30 of last year.
According to the facts of the case, the victim went to a karaoke centre with a friend before messaging the accused, whom she had recently befriended on the Leo application, via Telegram.
The victim asked the accused to send her home; however, during the journey, the man instead drove the Form Four student to a house. The victim was forced to enter the house through the back door and was taken to a room where she was raped before being driven home around 4 a.m.
Defence counsel from the Legal Aid Department (JBG), Hanis Anisah Jamiludin, urged the court to impose a minimum sentence, suggesting the implementation of a community service programme.
She explained that the offender was only 18 years old and was helping his father, a construction labourer, to supplement the family's income, as he has three younger siblings still in school.
The counsel added that the accused was interested in pursuing vocational skills, had expressed remorse, and promised not to repeat the offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi requested the court impose a sentence commensurate with the crime, citing the frequency of sexual crime cases and the public interest.
A Social Welfare Officer from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) also submitted a social report, which was read out by the court interpreter.
In passing the sentence, Judge Surita advised the young offender "to use this opportunity to learn vocational skills and, preferably, retake the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination." - November 19, 2025