SIBU: A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and three strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court after being found guilty of raping a teenage girl.
Judge Musyiri Peet on Friday (January 9) ruled that the prosecution had proved its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
In determining the sentence, he considered the facts of the case, the guilty plea, and the public interest.
Samuel Mahmud of Sungai Keriok, Niah, was charged with raping the victim, who was 15 at the time, at a hotel in Jalan Maju on November 11, 2024.
The offence falls under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a mandatory sentence of between 10 and 20 years' imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Samuel, who pleaded for leniency, was not represented by a solicitor.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry requested a deterrent sentence, citing the serious and prevalent nature of the crime, and critically, the victim's age being under 16.
She stressed that the child victim had been forced to satisfy the accused's desires, resulting in lasting trauma.
"This heinous act has victimised not only the child but also her family, who have been deeply affected by the accused's crime.
"The prosecution evidence presented at trial clearly proved the elements of the offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, and the case against the defendant remains compelling," Cynthia emphasised.
Samuel was ordered to serve his prison sentence from the date of his arrest on November 27, 2024.
