SIBU: A coffee shop waitress was sentenced to three years’ jail by the Sessions Court here on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of permitting her biological child to be sexually abused by her husband, who is also the victim’s stepfather.
Judge Stella Augustine Druce also ordered the 35-year-old woman to serve the prison sentence with effect from the date of her arrest on August 29.
The court also imposed a good behaviour bond on her for six months, secured by RM30,000 with two sureties in accordance with Section 31 (2) (a) of the Child Act 2001 upon completion of serving the sentence.
As an additional condition, the accused was also ordered to serve 240 hours of community service upon completion of serving the sentence.
According to the charge, the accused, who was responsible for looking after her child, was charged with allowing her child to be sexually abused in a longhouse in Kanowit between 2021 and 2025.
In this regard, the accused has committed an offence punishable under Section 31(1)(b) of the Child Act 2001, which, upon conviction, carries a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 20 years or both.
Based on facts of the case, on July 9, 2025, at about 12:00 noon, the complainant (victim), and her younger sister fled their longhouse after being unable to bear being raped by her stepfather since she was 11 years old.
On August 20, 2025, the complainant was taken to the hospital by her biological father because she complained of stomach ache before the victim was confirmed by a doctor to be six months pregnant.
Acting on information, the police arrested a man and a woman to assist in the investigation.
The investigation conducted found that the victim had been raped by her stepfather since she was 11 years old in 2021.
The investigation also found that the accused knew that the victim had been raped by her husband, the victim’s stepfather.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Cynthia Emmelda Jerry, while the accused was not represented.
