SIBU: A welder was sentenced to 11 years in prison and four strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here on Friday (Oct 31) for raping his 19-year-old niece who later became six months pregnant.
The 46-year-old accused pleaded guilty before Judge Musyiri Peet, who ordered that the custodial sentence to take effect from the date of conviction.
According to the charge sheet, the welder committed the offence against his 19-year-old niece at a house in Lorong Payung 3 in May 2025, between 8pm and 1am.
As a result of the assault, the victim was later found to be six months pregnant.
The charge was framed under Section 376B of the Penal Code, which carries a prison term of between 10 and 30 years and whipping upon conviction.
Based on the facts of the case, at about 1am on Oct 24, 2025, the victim’s father was informed by hospital staff that his daughter was pregnant.
Upon questioning, the victim revealed that she had been forced by the accused to engage in sexual acts several times without her consent.
Following the report, police arrested the suspect at around 8pm the same day to assist with investigations.
In mitigation, the welder appealed for a prison term of not more than 10 years and expressed his willingness to take responsibility for the victim and the unborn child.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence, stressing the gravity of the offence as it involved an abuse of authority.
“The victim was forced to submit to the accused’s lust until she became 26 weeks pregnant. This act not only caused deep trauma to the victim but also brought distress to her entire family,” she said.
