PUTRAJAYA: A former deliveryman, who failed to have his jail term for raping an 11-year-old girl reduced by the Court of Appeal, was told not to cry over spilt milk.
The appellate court dismissed the appeal by Nur Hidayat Selliman, 31, to have his 18-year jail sentence and 10 strokes of the rotan reduced. Nur Hidayat was convicted of raping the girl four years ago.
Court of Appeal judge Justice Azmi Ariffin, who sat with Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Azman Abdullah, found no justification to disturb the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court and later affirmed by the High Court.
In a written judgment dated July 31, Justice Azmi said the severity of the punishment was appropriate as the crime was heinous and it was necessary to protect children.
The remorse shown by Nur Hidayat to the court now, he said, held no value.
“No use crying over spilt milk,” Justice Azmi said.
“We opine that the appellant, as an adult with mature thinking, certainly could think that his wild act will not only end in harm and disaster to himself but worse, affect the purity, honour and dignity of the victim,” he said in the judgment.
The harsh sentence on Nur Hidayat only served as a deterrent and a reminder of the court’s commitment to address such crimes against children, he said.
