KOTA KINABALU: A 34-years-old labourer was sentenced to 29 years' jail and 19 strokes of the rotan for raping his 6-year-old step daughter.
Sessions judge Indra Ayub delivered the decision saying that the defence team had failed to create a reasonable doubt.
The accused was charged with raping his step daughter at a village in Ranau on June 22, 2016.
Deputy public prosecutor Akmalzatul Mohamed Nawi called for a heavy penalty to serve as a reminder to everyone that such offences will not be tolerated.
“Based on our investigation, this is not the accused’s first criminal case.
"He has been charged with being drunk and disorderly in public places under Section 15 of the Minor Offences Ordinance.
“The accused should have been protecting the victim, instead he took advantage of her and ruined her future,” she said.
The accused appealed for a lenient sentence as he had three children to care for including the step daughter.
Indra, when delivering the sentence, said the accused has betrayed his role as a guardian of the victim.