By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Aug 20: A 47-year-old contract labourer from Serian has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and four strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl on two separate occasions, one of which occurred beneath a stadium staircase during a heavy rainstorm.
The accused entered his plea to two amended charges before Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi in the Sessions Court today.
The court heard that the first offense took place in the early hours of Feb 4 this year at the accused’s residence in Serian. The second assault occurred just over 24 hours later, on the night of Feb 5, under the stands of a local stadium where the pair had sought shelter from inclement weather.
Both charges were filed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and caning upon conviction.
Saiful sentenced the accused to nine years in prison and two strokes of the cane for the first charge, and 10 years with two cane strokes for the second. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning the accused will serve a total of ten years, effective from his arrest on Aug 19.
The case came to light on Feb 8 when the victim’s family reported her missing after she failed to return home for five days. She returned safely the following day, prompting her parents to notify authorities and bring her to a hospital for a medical examination.
Police arrested the accused at his village home on the evening of Feb 9. Investigations revealed that initial contact between the accused and the Form 3 student began via WhatsApp, where she had messaged him requesting a meeting at a bus stop shortly after midnight on Feb 3.
He picked up the minor on his motorcycle and took her to his home, where the first assault occurred. The second attack took place the following night at the stadium.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian led the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented during the proceedings. — DayakDaily
