Bomoh’s jail term for rape reduced to 40 years

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KUCHING: The High Court allowed an appeal against the sentences and conviction of a 64-year-old ‘bomoh’ who was sentenced to 69 years’ imprisonment and ordered to be given 12 strokes of the whip for raping three sisters.

Judicial Commissioner Rhodzariah Bujang reduced the charges from 69 years to 40 years’ imprisonment. However, the whipping remains.

In making the decision, Rhodzariah said in view of the convict’s age she reduced the sentence to 40 years, but the whipping still has to be carried out.

She also ordered the jail terms to run consecutively.

The ‘bomoh’ appeared calm and even smiled in the dock when the decision was made.

He was convicted on three charges under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code for raping three sisters, aged between 13 and 16, in a house in Jalan Kulas Utara between last February and March.

The sentence was meted out by judge Timothy Finlayson Joel last August 25.  The bomoh took care of the sisters after their parents separated and they were with their mother.

While the mother was working somewhere else the bomoh was responsible for them.