KUCHING: A 21-year-old factory worker was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane here Wednesday for raping a 12-year-old girl last month.
Sessions Court Judge Iris Awen Jon imposed the sentence after he pleaded guilty to the charge under Section 376(2)(d) of the Penal Code.
Section 376(2)(d) provides for imprisonment of between 10 and 30 years and whipping for rape involving a girl under 16 without her consent.
The court also ordered him to undergo counselling during his imprisonment and to be placed under police supervision for two years after completing his sentence.
According to the charge, the offence occurred at about 1am on Aug 31 at a house in Kampung Muara Tebas, Jalan Bako.
According to the facts of the case, he entered the victim’s bedroom through a window and forced her to have sexual intercourse with him.
The victim’s older foster sister later discovered the accused hiding under a blanket in the girl’s bedroom when she checked on her at about 9.40am.
The victim subsequently told her sister that the accused had entered the room during the early hours of the morning and forced himself on her.
Investigations found that the accused and the victim had known each other and had been in a relationship since March this year.
The accused was arrested by police at about 2.15pm on Sept 1.
During mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency, saying he was remorseful and that it was his first offence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng, however, urged the court to impose a heavier sentence, describing rape as a serious offence with a lasting impact on the victim.
He submitted that the case involved the rape of a child who had resisted and cried during the incident, adding that force had been used against her.
Chuah submitted that a custodial sentence was necessary not only to punish the accused but also to deter others from committing similar offences.
He said a sentence should reflect the seriousness of the offence and the degree of public disapproval towards such criminal behaviour.
The accused was unrepresented during the court proceedings.
