Farmer gets 47 years, 24 strokes for raping daughter

KOTA KINABALU: A farmer was jailed for a total of 47 years and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here for two counts of raping his daughter.

Judge Indra Hj Ayub imposed the sentence on the father of two after he pleaded guilty to two charges under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code.

The indictment carries a jail term of up to 30 years and whipping upon conviction.

On the first count, the 40year-old accused was sentenced to 20 years’ jail and ordered to be whipped 10 times for raping his 12-year-old daughter in the bathroom of a house in Ranau in April, 2016.

The accused received another 27 years behind bars plus 14 whippings for the second charge of raping the same victim at the same place on November 5, 2016.

The judge ordered the accused to serve his jail sentences from the date his remand order was issued on August 15, 2017.

In pleading for a lenient sentence, counsel Dominic Chew submitted that this was his client’s first criminal offence.

The counsel also said that during the remand period, it had taught the accused a valuable lesson and being away from his family had been a torture to him.

He also said that the accused had regretted what he had done and wished to turn over a new leaf.

In reply, the prosecution argued that the accused had committed a serious offence of raping his own daughter.

The prosecution also urged the court to take into account public interest and added that a deterrent sentence should be imposed on the accused.