KUALA LUMPUR: A van driver has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here after pleading guilty to raping his stepdaughter, who gave birth to their child last year.
Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar ordered the 59-year-old man to begin his sentence from the date of his arrest, which was on Oct 11.
The court also mandated that the man receive counselling during his imprisonment and be placed on police probation for two years after completing his sentence.
The man was charged with raping the 13-year-old girl in an apartment in Setapak Jaya, Wangsa Maju, at 4pm on Sept 10 last year.
The charge was framed under Section 375(g) of the Penal Code and is punishable under Section 376(2)(d) of the same law, which provides for imprisonment up to 30 years and whipping upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, a police report was lodged by a hospital medical officer after the victim sought treatment for irregular menstruation.
The examination revealed she was pregnant, and the gestational age at the time was 19 weeks.
The girl disclosed that her stepfather raped her and expressed the need for protection, fearing that other family members would discover the situation.
After the victim gave birth, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test confirmed the accused as the baby’s biological father.
In mitigation, the unrepresented man stated that his wife is a disabled person, and he has an autistic child to support.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nursyuhada Abd Rauf requested an appropriate punishment to serve as a lesson, considering the trauma inflicted on the victim. – Bernama
