Daily Express, Sabah, 15 January 1999

Raping daughter: Timorese jailed

KOTA KINABALU: A 40-year-old Timorese labourer was jailed 18 years plus 10 strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here on two counts of raping his daughter aged 11.

The offence was committed at Kampung Salut, Tuaran, at 1.10am on Aug 15 in 1996.

He pleaded guilty to the offence under Section 376 of the Penal Code which carries up to 20 years' imprisonment plus cane upon conviction.

Judge Nurchaya Haji Arshad who presided the case on Thursday, was told by Prosecuting Officer ASP Bernard Leo that the offence was committed by the Timorese while the victim was inside her room, sleeping.

According to Bernard, the man sneaked into the victim's room while the other family members were asleep.

The victim could not do anything as the father held her tightly while committing the offence, the court heard.

He repeated the misdeed against his 15-year-old stepdaughter at 2.30am on Dec 29 last year.

Following a police report lodged by the man's wife, he was arrested the next day.

He was jailed 18 years plus five strokes of the cane for each offence.

However, Nurchaya ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

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