Man pleads guilty to raping stepdaughter

KUCHING: A man pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here yesterday to seven charges of raping his stepdaughter.

The 54-year- old was charged in three separate Sessions Court rooms where he pleaded guilty to all the charges framed against him under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for five to 30 years in prison.

Sentencing before Judge Afidah Abdul Rahman was adjourned to Jan 25, before Judge Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad adjourned it to Jan 27 and Judge Timothy Finlayson Joel adjourned it to Feb 13.

The delivery of judgement was adjourned for the prosecution to tender the brief facts of the case and other documents pertaining to the matter.

The accused admitted committing the offences at government quarters in Batu Lintang here between January 2015 and this month. The victim is now 17 years old.

She told police she was forced to undergo an abortion at a private clinic here. The victim did not tell anyone of the sexual abuse, which began when she was 15, as her stepfather had threatened her.

The case came to light after the victim’s sister saw the accused touch her private part. This led the victim to disclose the abuse to her sister and she lodged a police report.

It is learnt that the victim’s mother is the accused’s wife from a third marriage.

The accused was unrepresented while DPP Abdul Fariz Abdul Hamid and DPP Haresh Prakash prosecuted.

The accused is escorted by a policeman and the investigation officer at the court house.

Society president Kelly Ho (second left) and Crown Square management representative Tay Kien Hong (second right) with two other Loving Society members and some of the lucky draw prizes.