Ex-hotel staff gets 13 years’ jail for raping Aussie tourist
‘HEINOUS OFFENCE’: Convict took advantage of intoxicated victim on Oct 19, 2014
AFORMER hotel receptionist who raped an Australian guest was yesterday sentenced by the Sessions Court to 13 years’ jail and two strokes of the rotan.
In sentencing Roaquin Radzmund Muhammed Reduan Francis, 27, judge Datin Kunasundary Marimuthu said the factors she took into consideration was where the crime had occurred and how it had occurred.
“Though the accused does not have a previous record, the sentence must reflect the gravity of the crime, which is a heinous offence. It should be a deterrent to the accused and others contemplating similar offences.”
She said when sentencing an accused for rape, public interest should be taken into consideration.
Roaquin, from Taiping, was found guilty of raping the 27-yearold Sydney resident at the Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur at 168, Jalan Imbi, here, about 5am on Oct 19, 2014.
The incident had taken place after the victim, a fast-food outlet manager, had returned to the hotel from a friend’s wedding.
Counsel James Khong who mitigated for a lenient sentence for his client, told the court that Roaquin was the second of four children, and was the sole breadwinner of his family.
“During the trial, my client conducted his own defence as the family could not afford to hire a lawyer. The court should take into consideration that the complainant was not put under fear of life or limb and there was no premeditated intent by the accused.
“Prison sentence should be fixed at the lower end as he is young and impressionable. A long time in prison is not going to bring him or the public any benefit.”
Deputy public prosecutor Liyana Zawani Mohd Radzi said Roaquin was working as a receptionist at the hotel where the victim was staying, and he had helped her alight from a car on the day of the incident when she returned to the hotel in an intoxicated state, after attending her friend’s wedding.
“He took advantage of the victim instead of looking after the hotel’s guest. He made a second key of the victim’s hotel room, went into her room and raped her about 5am, thus breaching the trust of the guest.
“The victim came to Malaysia as a tourist and hotel guest, and his action has smeared the name of this country,” said Liyana.