SEREMBAN: A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to six years in jail and three strokes of the cane for the sexual assault of his 12-year-old niece.
Sessions judge Surita Budin imposed the sentence after the senior citizen pleaded guilty to six counts of physical sexual assault on Friday (Feb 14).
He was charged with committing the offences at a house near here between 8.30am on Feb 3 and 6.30am the following day.
The charges were framed under Sections 14(a), (b), (d) and 15B(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
Each of the first five charges carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Offenders found guilty under Section 15(B)(a) of the Act, for threatening the victim to engage in an activity that is sexual in nature, can be jailed for up to 10 years if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi then asked the court to impose a stern penalty as sexual offences against children were being reported on an almost daily basis.
"Although the accused has saved the court's time by pleading guilty, public interest far (outweighs) that of the accused in such cases.
"As an uncle, he should have protected his 12-year-old niece instead of sexually assaulting her," she said.
The accused, who was unrepresented, told the court he was remorseful for his actions.
"I deeply regret and am truly sorry for what I did.
"This is the first time I have run afoul of the law and hope the court will consider my guilty plea," he said, adding that he was also a stroke patient.
He also told the court that he had to provide for his two wives and two children.
Suriati then sentenced the accused to six years' jail for each offence. He was also given one stroke of the cane each for three of the offences.
However, she ordered that the jail terms run concurrently, meaning that the accused would serve a total of six years behind bars.
According to the facts of the case, the victim was staying with the accused and his family temporarily while her father recuperated at Hospital Serdang from a heart-related ailment.
Her mother was also at the hospital to keep her husband company.
