ASHAMED: Syafarudin trying to hide his face from the cameras while being escorted to the courthouse’s temporary cell.
KUCHING: A painter was sentenced to eight years’ jail and ordered to be given three lashes for raping his 14-year-old girlfriend.
Mohd Syafarudin Isa, 24, pleaded guilty before judge Amelati Parnell who convicted him of a charge under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Syafarudin admitted to having raped the girl at his village house at Kuching-Serian Road at about 10am on May 4.
The brief facts of the case stated that the victim’s father lodged a police report after she was missing from their house.
The next day, a teacher from his daughter’s school informed him that his daughter had turned up for school.
He interrogated his daughter and she admitted having stayed overnight at the boyfriend’s house and that they had sexual intercourse.
Following a report made, police nabbed the accused at his house on May 6.
In mitigation, Syafarudin pleaded for a lenient sentence, promising not to repeat the offence. He said he had to support his family on his meager earning of RM40 per day.
Judge Amelati denied Syafarudin’s application for stay of execution but ordered his jail term to take effect immediately.
DPP Stella prosecuted.