BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: A 51-year-old local man was sentenced to 25 years and six months’ imprisonment by the High Court Tuesday (Feb 4) for raping his six-year-old granddaughter.
The defendant, a father of 10 and the head of the household, committed the act in the family home, a place where the victim, referred to as Miss X, should have been safe.
The crime came to light in January 2023 when Miss X’s mother noticed a sudden change in her daughter’s behaviour.
Upon questioning, the young girl revealed the horrifying abuse she had endured at the hands of her grandfather.
Acting immediately, Miss X’s mother reported the incident to the authorities, prompting an investigation by the Women and Children Abuse Investigations Unit of the Royal Brunei Police Force.
Investigators gathered critical evidence, including testimonies from Miss X and other witnesses, as well as a gynaecological report confirming the abuse.
The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of rape under Section 376(3)(c) of the Penal Code, faced a trial in the High Court.
During the proceedings, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Adliatul Hidayah Mohd Zaidi presented eight witnesses, including Miss X.
Due to her young age, her testimony was presented through a recorded video interview conducted during the police investigation.
Judicial Commissioner Muhammed Faisal PDJLD DSP Haji Kefli found the defendant guilty, emphasising the gravity of the crime.
The prosecution highlighted the defendant’s gross breach of trust as a grandfather and the exploitation of Miss X’s vulnerability due to her age.
The fact that the crime occurred in the family home, a place meant to be a sanctuary for the child, further aggravated the offense.
Under Section 258 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the defendant, being over 50 years old, was exempted from corporal punishment. Instead, he was sentenced to an additional 6 months’ imprisonment in lieu of whipping.
In delivering the sentence, Judicial Commissioner Muhammed Faisal stressed the need for severe punishment to deter such crimes, particularly incestuous rape, which he described as a grave violation of trust and humanity. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
