MIRI: A former school security guard was yesterday sentenced to 13 years’ jail and four strokes of the cane for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on his stepdaughter.
Sessions Court judge Steve Ritikos passed the sentence on the 29-year-old after finding him guilty on two charges under Section 14 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16 of the same act.
Section 14 carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, while Section 16 provides for an additional jail term of up to five years and whipping, upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the first offence took place on Nov 28, 2017 at the storeroom of a school in Batu Niah, while the second offence took place 30 minutes later at the school’s guard house.
The stepdaughter was eight years old at the time of the incident.
DPP Aftal Mariz urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence due to the growing number of sexual offences committed against women and children, as reported in the media.
For each charge, the judge handed down a 13-year jail sentence and two strokes of the cane. The jail sentences are to run concurrently, starting from the date of arrest on Jan 24, 2018.
Sam Laya served as defence counsel.