KOTA KINABALU: A Filipino will spend 10 years in jail and receive one stroke of the cane for raping his daughter’s teenage friend, which resulted in her giving birth to a child later.

       The 14-year-old victim was raped at Kg Sim-Sim, Sandakan, in February 2017, while she was sleeping at his house.

       Sandakan Sessions Court judge Darmafikri Abu Adam meted out the sentence on the 54-year-old accused after he pleaded guilty to the charge on Wednesday (March 16).

       He will be referred to the Immigration Department after serving his sentence.

       Prior to the discovery of his heinous act, the victim had complained that she was feeling unwell and was brought to the emergency ward on July 3, 2017.

       She was later confirmed to be six months pregnant and a report was lodged by the medical officer in charge.

       The accused’s blood specimen was taken and it matched with the baby’s DNA.

       In his appeal before the sentence, he had asked for leniency saying he was remorseful and that he had to care for his paralysed wife.

       Deputy public prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto urged for a deterrent sentence to be given due to the severity of the case.

       In KOTA KINABALU, a sundry shop worker was sentenced to seven years’ jail and two strokes of the cane for molesting a 16-year-old girl in December last year.

       The 27-year-old accused pleaded guilty to the charges before Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court judge Elsie Primus on Wednesday.

       He had rubbed his private parts on the girl’s thighs between 3pm and 4pm on Dec 16, 2021, at a store in Jalan Kg Kobong, Pulau Banggi, Kudat.

       He will also be placed under police supervision after completing his sentence.

       During the case, the court heard that the girl who worked at the shop with the man, was traumatised by the incident and had wanted to quit her job.

       She had told her cousin the reason for her quitting, which prompted the latter to bring her to the police station and lodged a complaint.

       In another court, a farmer who claimed trial to sexually assaulting his 10-year-old stepdaughter in October 2021, will go on trial this on Oct 17 and 18 this year.

       The 51-year-old was accused of forcefully kissing the girl at a river in a village in Ranau.

       The offence was allegedly committed under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

       However, as the man is related to the victim, he faces additional sentence under the same Act which carries a jail term of up to five years, and at least two strokes of the rotan, upon conviction.

       Six witnesses are expected to testify during the trial.

       The man will be remanded further pending the trial date.