KOTA KINABALU: A man was sentenced to 22 years' jail plus 13 strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here for raping his underage sister-in-law.
Judge Elsie Primus imposed the sentence on the 43-year-old after he was found guilty of raping the 9-year-old victim in some bushes on a farm in Kota Marudu in April 2021.
He was convicted under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 30 years and whipping, upon conviction.
The court also ordered the accused to be placed under police supervision for two years after his imprisonment.
Nine witnesses testified against the accused and the latter was the sole defence witness during the trial.
The accused was unrepresented while deputy public prosecutor Tham Pou Jin prosecuted.
In another Sessions Court, a man claimed trial to a charge of sexually assaulting his 10-year-old grandniece two years ago.
The 41-year-old was charged under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 16(1) of the same act.
He had allegedly molested his grandniece in a living room of an unnumbered house in Papar between Dec 14, 2022 at noon and Dec 21, 2022 at 5pm.
Judge Amir Shah Amir Hassan fixed July 26 for case management.
The man, who was represented by counsel Muhamad Amirul Amin, was released on a bail of RM6,000 with two local sureties.
The court warned the man not to disturb the prosecution's witnesses, pending disposal of the case.