By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, July 31: A 31-year-old labourer will spend the next 15 years behind bars and receive three strokes of the cane for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Serian.
The Sessions Court handed down the sentence today after the accused pleaded guilty to the crime.
Judge Iris Awen Jon delivered the verdict under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and caning.
The assault took place on June 19, 2025, inside a worker’s container room where the victim was sleeping.
The accused, who had connected with the girl through social media, forced himself on her, tearing her clothes and threatening to kill her if she screamed.
The attack reportedly occurred three times before witnesses intervened and alerted authorities.
Medical reports confirmed injuries consistent with sexual assault, including bruising on the victim’s neck and chest. Police arrested the suspect in Miri nearly a month later.
During sentencing, the accused pleaded for leniency, claiming he needed to care for his ailing father and infant child.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Aiman Mutallib Mohamad Shariff pushed for a strict penalty, emphasising the violent nature of the crime and the importance of protecting minors.
In addition to imprisonment and caning, the court ordered the man to undergo rehabilitation and counselling while in custody. Upon release, he will remain under police supervision for two years.
The accused was unrepresented in court. — DayakDaily
