By Dorcas Ting
KAPIT, March 6: A 58-year-old man was sentenced to a total of 32 years in prison by the Kapit Sessions Court today after being found guilty on three counts of raping his teenage granddaughter, resulting in her pregnancy.
The court handed down separate sentences for each charge, with the accused receiving 10 years for the first and second charges, and 12 years for the third.
The first two charges stem from incidents that occurred in April and May 2023, when the accused allegedly committed incest by engaging in sexual acts with the victim in their home in Song.
The crimes reportedly took place around 10.30pm and 11pm in the victim’s bedroom. The third charge relates to a similar offence committed in May 2024, this time in the living room of the same house at approximately 10pm.
The accused was charged under Section 376B(1) of the Penal Code, read together with Section 16(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Under Section 376B(1), the minimum sentence for such offences is 10 years imprisonment, with a maximum of 30 years, in addition to caning. Section 16(1) stipulates a prison term of up to five years and a minimum of two strokes of the cane.
The case came to light on December 16, 2024, when a 16-year-old girl visited the Song Health Clinic for a medical examination.
The examination revealed that she was approximately 33 weeks pregnant. Following this discovery, a report was filed with the police, leading to the arrest of the accused.
Further investigations revealed that the victim was the accused’s biological granddaughter and had been living with him since the death of her mother. The accused, who is the victim’s maternal grandfather, had been granted custody of the girl by the Social Welfare Department (JKM).
The case was presided over by Judge Musyiri Peet, with Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry leading the prosecution. The court’s decision underscores the severity of the crimes and serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences for sexual offenses, particularly those involving minors.
The accused will serve his sentences consecutively, ensuring that he remains incarcerated for the full 32-year term. – DayakDaily
