(Kuching, 21st) — A 47-year-old contract worker from Serian was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment and four strokes of the cane after admitting in court yesterday to raping a 15-year-old girl on two occasions during heavy rains, one of which occurred in a stadium stand stairwell.
The accused pleaded guilty to two amended charges before Sessions Court Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi yesterday. According to the court statement, the first offense occurred in the early hours of February 4 this year at the accused’s residence in Serian. 24 hours later, on the night of February 5, the area beneath the local stadium stands became the site of the second offense—both were seeking shelter from a rainstorm.
Both charges invoked Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and caning. The judge sentenced the accused to nine years in prison and two strokes of the cane for the first count, and ten years with two strokes for the second count. As the sentences run concurrently, the accused will serve ten years in total, calculated from August 19—the date of his arrest.
The case came to light on February 8, after the victim failed to return home for five consecutive days and her family filed a missing person report. The girl returned safely the next day, prompting her parents to immediately inform the authorities and take her to the hospital for examination. Police arrested the accused on the night of February 9 at his village home.
Investigations revealed that the accused first contacted the junior high school student via WhatsApp. Just past midnight on February 3, the girl sent a message asking the accused to pick her up at a bus stop. He took the minor to his residence on a motorcycle, committing the first assault there; the second assault happened the following night at the stadium.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian. The accused was not represented by legal counsel during the trial.
The accused pleaded guilty to two amended charges before Sessions Court Judge Saiful Bahari Adzmi yesterday. According to the court statement, the first offense occurred in the early hours of February 4 this year at the accused’s residence in Serian. 24 hours later, on the night of February 5, the area beneath the local stadium stands became the site of the second offense—both were seeking shelter from a rainstorm.
Both charges invoked Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and caning. The judge sentenced the accused to nine years in prison and two strokes of the cane for the first count, and ten years with two strokes for the second count. As the sentences run concurrently, the accused will serve ten years in total, calculated from August 19—the date of his arrest.
The case came to light on February 8, after the victim failed to return home for five consecutive days and her family filed a missing person report. The girl returned safely the next day, prompting her parents to immediately inform the authorities and take her to the hospital for examination. Police arrested the accused on the night of February 9 at his village home.
Investigations revealed that the accused first contacted the junior high school student via WhatsApp. Just past midnight on February 3, the girl sent a message asking the accused to pick her up at a bus stop. He took the minor to his residence on a motorcycle, committing the first assault there; the second assault happened the following night at the stadium.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ruvinasini Pandian. The accused was not represented by legal counsel during the trial.