SEREMBAN: A 63-year-old man has been sentenced to six years in jail for sexually assaulting his 12-year-old niece while her father was hospitalised.
Sessions Court judge Surita Budin also ordered the man, who pleaded guilty to five counts of committing physical sexual assault and one charge of threatening the victim to engage in sexual activity, to receive three strokes of the cane.
The offences took place at a house near here between 8.30am on Feb 3 and 6.30am the following day.
The accused was charged 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 maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and whipping.
Offenders convicted under Section 15B(a) of the Act for threatening a child to engage in an activity that is sexual in nature, face up to 10 years in jail.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi urged the court to impose a stern punishment, citing the increasing frequency of sexual offences against children.
“Although the accused has saved the court’s time by pleading guilty, public interest must take precedence.
“As an uncle, he should have protected his 12-year-old niece instead of sexually assaulting her,” she said.
The accused, who was unrepresented, expressed remorse.
“I deeply regret my actions and am truly sorry for what I did. This is my first offence and I hope the court will consider my guilty plea,” he said, adding that he was a stroke patient supporting two wives and two children.
Surita sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently, meaning that he will serve a total of six years.
He was also given one stroke of the cane for three of the six offences.
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 for a heart ailment.
Her mother was also at the hospital with her husband.
