PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): The Court of Appeal has upheld the 26-year jail sentence imposed on a former lorry driver for sexually assaulting his three young daughters two years ago.

       However, the three-member bench led by Justice Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil allowed the man's appeal for a reduction of his whipping from 24 to 16 strokes.

       Justice Abdul Jalil said the court was unanimous in finding that the offence committed by the 40-year-old man was serious as it involved his own daughters and that the 26-year jail term imposed by the Klang Sessions Court was reasonable and appropriate.

       The bench, which also comprised Justices Datuk Hanipah Farikullah and Datuk P. Ravinthran, dismissed the man's appeal against the jail sentence.

       Justice Abdul Karim said the whipping penalty of 24 strokes was excessive and reduced it to 16.

       The man pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court on Dec 12, 2019, to four charges of sexually assaulting his daughters – aged 10, nine and eight at the time – between 8am and noon on Oct 28 that year at their home in Klang, Selangor.

       He lost his appeal against the jail term and whipping in the High Court on Oct 16 last year. – Bernama