Fisherman gets 115 years for raping daughter

KUANTAN: A fisherman was jailed for 115 years and ordered to be caned 24 times after he pleaded guilty to five charges of incest and raping his own daughter between October 2013, and October this year.

The 53-year-old accused from Kampung Tebat, Pekan, 43.5km from here, was charged with the offence in two proceedings in separate Sessions Courts here.

In Sessions Court 1, the riverine fisherman was jailed 40 years by judge Unaizah Mohd on two charges of committing incest on Oct 20, 2013 and Oct 24, 2014.

He was charged with carrying out the acts on a raft house on Sungai Pahang, Kampung Tebat at 8.30pm on the dates mentioned when his eldest daughter, now 20, was then aged 16 and 17.

Unaizah sentenced him to 20 years jail for every charge and ordered them to be carried out concurrently.

Deputy public prosecutor Shahrul Ekhsan Hassim prosecuted while the accused was unrepresented.

In Sessions Court 4, the accused was sentenced to 75 years jail from the date of arrest and 30 strokes on three charges of raping the girl on Sept 14, 22 and Oct 3 at the same place and time.

Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali jailed the accused 25 years and 10 strokes for every charge after hearing the arguments of the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Haryati Abdullah.

The charges were under Section 376 (3) of the Penal Code, which provided a maximum 30-year jail sentence and 10 strokes of the cane.

But the caning was reduced as Section 288 of the Criminal Procedure Code provided that an offender could only be caned a maximum of 24 strokes.

Earlier, Haryati said the victim ran away from home on Dec 6 after she could no longer stand being raped by the accused, and lodged a police report on Dec 13.

The victim kept quiet prior to this as the accused threatened to rape her siblings if she reported the incidents. The victim is the eldest of five siblings.

No action was taken by her mother after she confided in the latter because she was afraid of being assaulted by the accused.

Haryati said the accused must be severely punished for his abominable acts because as a father, he should be protecting his children and not destroying their future. — Bernama