SEREMBAN: A 20-year-old delivery man was ordered by the Sessions Court here to perform 240 hours of community service within 12 months for raping a student who was two months short of turning 14.
Judge Surita Budin also ordered Yarits Dzikri Yunus, who had pleaded guilty to the charge, to comply with several other conditions which include to report at the nearest police station once a month and to undergo counselling during the duration.
He was also ordered to deposit a RM5,000 bond with a guarantor being a member of the family failing which he will have to serve one year in jail.
He was charged with committing the offence in a store near a house in Kg Ulu Beranang in Lenggeng around 3.30pm on Aug 22.
The accused was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Surita said if the young offender fails to complete the community service sentence within the given period, he will be hauled to court again to face the charge.
Earlier, his lawyer Asmawi Ismail pleaded for a light sentence as the accused was a young offender and did not have any previous criminal record.
He said the accused came to know the victim via a Telegram chat group, which was only for individuals above 18.
Asmawi claimed that the accused had no knowledge that the victim was below 18.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni sought for a sentence which commensurate the crime as the victim was a child.
She said although the accused had pleaded guilty, this was not a mitigating factor as sexual assaults against children were on the increase.
