‘VICTIMS DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS WRONG’

Source says one of them commented ‘sudah terlanjur’ when quizzed

SHOCKED, baffled and humiliated. These three words sum up the feelings of the family of a 19year-old and her younger sister, who were allegedly raped by their grandfather, father and two uncles over the past six years.

The victims’ grandmother, in her 50s, recounted the day her husband and three sons were picked up by police.

The mother of 10 said most of the family members were at home when a police team, in four vehicles, came to their village located about 20km from here on Friday.

“I do not know how to describe my feelings when the police arrested my husband and sons.

“The feelings worsened when the police told us that my husband and sons were arrested on suspicion of raping my granddaughters,” said the woman, who declined to comment on her granddaughters’ allegations.

“Let the police investigate. My husband is not well. He has an ulcer in his stomach and, sometimes, he will vomit blood.”

One of the woman’s daughters, in her 20s, who is the ninth child in the family, said she found it hard to believe the allegations.

“I had told the victim to find work, but she refused to listen. She accompanied my father to the farm,” she said.

She said the family noticed the victim’s stomach had become bigger, adding that the family, had to force the victim to have her condition checked by doctors.

“It was my brother, who was arrested, who took her to the clinic here. I do not know what happened, but I am humiliated by the news published on social media and television.”

It was reported that the four suspects, aged between 26 and 57, were arrested after police learnt about the condition of one of the victims from Serian Hospital near here.

According to police, the victim, who is 25 weeks pregnant, claimed she was raped since she was 13.

She also claimed her younger sister, 14, was raped since she was 9.

A police source said harrowing details had been uncovered.

The source said details were still sketchy, but they pointed to disturbing details.

“All of them live under one roof in a longhouse, and it started six years ago for the 19-year-old victim. It is like the girls did not know what happened to them was wrong.”

He said one of the suspects commented sudah terlanjur, which loosely translated to “the deed is done”.

“We will be calling the victims’ grandmother for questioning. Hopefully, she can shed more light on the case.”

The victims have a 17-year-old brother, who lives in the same house, and is under the care of their grandmother. Their mother died 10 years ago.

Yesterday, the victims’ father, grandfather and two uncles, clad in purple lock-up attire, were produced before magistrate’s court senior registrar Dayang Roselind Awang Mahdini, who granted a remand order.

The case is being investigated under Section 376B of the Penal Code for incest, which carries a maximum 30 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.