SEREMBAN: A teenager has been ordered to undergo rehabilitation at the Henry Gurney School until he turns 21 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of raping a 16-year-old student.
Sessions judge Surita Budin told the accused, who was three months short of turning 19 when the offence was committed, to take the opportunity while at the school to further his education.
"After taking into account the mitigating and aggravating factors, the facts of the case and the social report (from the Social Welfare Department), the court hereby finds that the young offender has the potential to do better if he receives proper education.
"The court hopes you will take this positively, as you will also be able to sit for your SPM or other courses, which will help you secure proper employment later on," she said in court on Wednesday (Nov 19).
The accused, who was a construction worker, was charged with raping the victim at a house here between 3.30am and 4am on Aug 30.
He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years with caning upon conviction.
However, the accused was spared the stipulated penalties given his young age.
Earlier, his lawyer Hanis Anisah Jamiludin pleaded for a lenient sentence as the accused was remorseful and had promised never to run afoul of the law again.
"He works with his father, who is a contractor, and wants to continue working so that he can help supplement the family's income.
"The defence pleads with the court to order the accused to do community service as the social report states that he was keen to pursue skills training," she said, adding that the accused has three younger sisters.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi asked the court to impose a sentence commensurate with the crime.
"The accused has committed a serious offence, and the court needs to take public interest into account when sentencing him.
"This is also important as the number of sexual offences has shown an uptrend in recent times," she added.
