SEREMBAN: A lorry driver has been sentenced to six years in jail after he pleaded guilty to the physical sexual assault of his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
The 45-year-old did not contest the charge after it was read to him before Sessions judge Surita Budin on Wednesday (Aug 27).
He was accused of committing the offence at around 2am on June 10 at a house in Rembau.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and caning upon conviction.
His lawyer Mohd Hanif Hassan pleaded for a lenient sentence as the accused had saved the court's time by admitting to the offence.
He said the accused was the sole breadwinner of the family and had to provide for three children.
"If the court metes out a lengthy custodial sentence, it may adversely affect his family, as his wife is a homemaker.
"This is also his first offence and he is deeply remorseful," he added.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi urged the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the seriousness of the offence.
"In such cases, pleading guilty immediately should not be a mitigating factor.
"As a stepfather, the accused was supposed to have protected the child, but instead committed a heinous crime," she said.
Judge Surita also ordered the accused to undergo counselling and remain under police supervision for one year after serving his sentence.
In a separate case, a 32-year-old Indonesian claimed trial to two charges of committing physical sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl.
Upi Asrizal was charged with committing the offence at around 6.30pm on Aug 6 and 10.30pm three days later.
The alleged offences were committed at an eatery in Port Dickson where they were both employed.
The accused was also charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children 2017.
DPP Nurul Balkis said her team was not offering bail as the accused was a foreigner who had also committed an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying.
Judge Surita then refused bail and asked him to either contact his family or the embassy for assistance.
She fixed Sept 29 for mention.
