28 years, five strokes for raping 12-year-old girl

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SANDAKAN: The Sessions Court here yesterday sentenced a 23-year-old

man to a total of 28 years’ jail and five strokes of the cane for raping a 12-year-old girl three times in five days.

Sessions Court judge Ummu Kalthom Abd Samad sentenced Haris Abidin to eight years and one stroke of the cane for raping the girl on May 24 this year at 11pm, 10 years and two strokes for the second offence on May 25 and 10 years and two strokes for the third rape on May 28.

Haris, a Filipino, will also be referred to the Immigration

Department after completing his sentence as he does not have any valid document.

According to the facts of the case read by prosecuting officer Dominic Chew Ban Huat, the 12-year-old girl was abducted by Haris from her home in Landang Kandis on May 24 at 10pm and was brought to an oil palm plantation not far from Ladang Kandis where they stayed for three days.

Haris and the victim then moved to a house in the plantation for two days before the girl escaped and was brought to Kunak by her uncle to lodge a police report with the Kunak Police Station.

The accused was arrested on June 12 at 8.15pm at Suan Lamba Police Hut.

An Obstetrics and gynecology expert confirmed there was a tear in the victim’s hymen.

Haris was charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a minimum of five years’ jail and a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping.