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A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 104 years in prison and 18 strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court in Sibu after admitting to repeatedly raping his two underage stepdaughters
The accused, a former utility company employee, pleaded guilty to nine charges of rape, reported The Straits Times.
According to the case facts, the victims, now aged 15 and 16, informed their mother on 25 October that the man had been sexually assaulting them at their home in Jalan Salim, Sibu, since 2020.
Their mother immediately lodged a police report, and the accused was arrested the next day at 4.25рm.
Image for illustration purposes only.
Image via New Straits TimesDuring mitigation, the man pleaded for leniency, saying he regretted his actions and would not repeat the offence
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Cynthia Emmelda Jerry pressed for a severe sentence, stating that the girls had been forced to fulfil his desires.
Judge Musyiri Peet agreed, emphasising that the crime was aggravated by the fact that the victims were minors and the offender was their stepfather, someone entrusted with their safety and wellbeing.
"The offences occurred on multiple occasions, at different times, clearly showing a pattern of persistent abuse," the judge said.
He added that the man had seriously breached the trust placed in him as a guardian, and that sexual offences involving children, especially within a family, required strong deterrence.
"The law must protect the most vulnerable members of society and perpetrators must be held fully accountable," he said.
The judge ordered that all nine sentences be served consecutively.
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Weekdays (9.30am – 4.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Weekdays (9am – 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4390698
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am to 5.30pm)
Contact: +6082-422660
SMS/WhatsApp: +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am to 2pm)
Contact: +6088-280200
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (8.30am to 5.30pm)
Contact: +6016-2273065 | +6016-7213065
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
8. HEAL
Contact: 15555
