Van driver gets 10 years in prison and whipping for raping stepdaughter

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — A van driver was today sentenced in the Sessions Court to 10 years in prison and two strokes of the cane after pleading guilty to raping his stepdaughter who gave birth to their baby last year.

Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar ordered the 59-year-old man to serve the sentence from the date of arrest, which was October 11 last year.

The judge also ordered that the man be sent for counseling while in custody and placed on probation for two years after serving his sentence.

The man was accused of raping the 13-year-old girl at an apartment in Setapak Jaya, Wangsa Maju, here at 4pm on September 10 last year.

The charge was filed under Article 375(g) of the Criminal Code, which is punishable under Article 376(2)(d). The same law provides for a prison sentence of up to 30 years with whipping upon conviction.

Based on the facts of the case, a case was filed by a doctor at the hospital after the victim sought treatment for irregular menstruation. The results of the examination showed that she was pregnant and that the gestational age at that time was 19 weeks.

According to the girl, she was raped by her stepfather and she needed protection and was afraid that other family members would know about it.

The victim subsequently gave birth and results from a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test revealed that the suspect was the baby’s biological father.

In mitigation, the man, who was not represented, said his wife is a disabled person and he also has an autistic child to support.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Nursyuhada Abd Rauf asked for an appropriate punishment as a lesson for the suspect, taking into account that the suspect’s action had caused trauma to the victim. – Bernama