36yo man jailed 21 years, caned six times for sexually assaulting 5yo in Puncak Borneo

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By Dorcas Ting

KUCHING, March 13: A 36-year-old local man was sentenced to 21 years’ imprisonment and six strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here today after admitting to sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl in a village in Puncak Borneo.

Sessions Court Judge Iris Awen Jon handed down the sentence following the accused’s guilty plea to a charge under Section 377CA of the Penal Code, which carries a prison term of five to 30 years, along with whipping, upon conviction.

According to the prosecution, the incident occurred late Sunday night near a riverbank in the Puncak Borneo area.

The child’s grandmother discovered the girl was missing after the accused allegedly broke into their home and took her away. The disappearance came to light when the complainant’s daughter, who had been sleeping beside the child, woke up to find the girl gone.

Alarmed, the grandmother enlisted the help of villagers to search for the child. She was later found crying at a riverbank not far from her home.

A police report was lodged immediately, leading to the suspect’s arrest later that afternoon.

Medical examinations revealed scratches on the child’s face, hands, and legs, and blood stains were found on her underwear. An obstetrics and gynaecology specialist from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) concluded that the injuries were consistent with trauma from a blunt object.

During an identification procedure, the victim was able to identify the accused as her attacker.

In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency, claiming he had made a mistake and was unaware the victim was a young child.

However, judge Iris described the offence as a grave crime against a minor, noting that the accused had shown no genuine remorse in requesting a lighter sentence.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng, who handled the case, urged the court to impose a heavy sentence, highlighting the physical and emotional trauma inflicted on the young victim. — DayakDaily

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