KUCHING: The Sessions Court here sentenced a local man to 57 years in prison and 10 lashes of the cane for raping his 13-year-old daughter four years ago.
The grasscutter, aged 57, was found guilty on three counts by Judge Iris Awen Jon at the end of the trial yesterday (Jan 7).
On the first and second counts, he was charged under Section 376B (1) of the Penal Code for committing incest on his then 13-year-old daughter.
It provides for imprisonment for a period of up to 30 years, and caning.
On the third count, he was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 14 of the same Act and read together with Section 16 of the same Act for sexual assault against the same victim.
The offence is punishable with a prison sentence of up to 20 years, and subject to caning.
He committed all the heinous acts at a house in Sematan between 8am and 8pm on Dec 28, 2021.
The man was sentenced to 20 years in prison and three lashes of the cane on the first charge; 22 years in prison and four lashes of the cane on the second; and 15 years in prison and three lashes of the cane on the third charge.
The court ordered him to serve his sentences consecutively from the date of his remand on May 27, 2022.
A total of 13 prosecution witnesses were called throughout the trial.
Based on the facts of the case, an officer of the Social Welfare Department (JKM), had saved the teenager as she was believed to have been raped by her biological father.
An arrest was made and the heinous acts of the man came to light.
Investigations found that the crimes took place when the man’s wife was away in Kuching.
Deputy public prosecutors Ruvinasini Pandian and Nuralisa Natasha Nazrulzam prosecuted the case, while the accused was not represented.
