Father jailed 24 years for raping daughter

A father has been sentenced to 24 years in jail for raping his 13-year-old daughter, according to reports from a Sessions Court judge. The judge, Noor Zaihan Mohamad Ali, emphasized the need for heavy sentences to deter sexual crimes, particularly those committed by fathers against their own children. This decision was based on previous court rulings, including Md Adam Mustafar v Public Prosecutor and Yek Hock Soon, which stressed the importance of severe punishment to prevent fathers from preying on vulnerable victims and to instill fear in offenders and society.

The court also noted that the father's actions were particularly egregious due to his role as the victim's parent, who should have provided love and protection rather than causing trauma and pain. The accused, a 54-year-old man, pleaded guilty to multiple rape charges and was sentenced to 12 years in jail, with 10 strokes of the rotan for each charge, to run consecutively.

Additionally, he was sentenced to eight years in jail for a rape committed against the victim in September of the previous year, which ran concurrently with the other sentences. The court took into account the fact that the offenses occurred on different dates and involved separate acts, ruling that they could not be treated as a single transaction.

The father, who was unrepresented, had appealed for a lighter sentence due to health issues and work commitments, but the deputy public prosecutor argued for a harsher sentence, emphasizing the public interest and the father's failure to protect and educate his daughter. Following the sentencing, the accused was ordered to undergo rehabilitation counseling in prison and be placed under police supervision for two years after completing his sentence.

The victim reported the offenses to her mother, leading to the father's arrest later that night. The judge deemed the sentence adequate and appropriate, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and hoped it would serve as a deterrent to prevent the accused from repeating his criminal behavior.