KLANG: A former Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) volunteer was sentenced to 35 years in jail and 12 lashes for murdering a four-year-old girl five years ago.
High Court judge Norliza Othman meted out the sentence against Mohd Sazry Mohd Taha, 41, after he pleaded guilty to the offence.
According to the charge, Mohd Sazry, is accused of causing the death of Zahira Sofea Ahmad Mu'iiz near Kampung Sungai Udang here between 1pm on Sept 28 and 1pm the following day.
The accused also faces two additional charges under Section 31(1) of the Child Act for abusing two children aged 11 and 9. He also pleaded guilty to the offence.
Norliza in her judgment said the abuse of the victim, which resulted in death, demonstrated that the accused showed no mercy towards the child.
"The court finds that a sentence of 35 years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane, in lieu of the death penalty, is appropriate and fair to the accused.
"The court, when passing the sentence, considered both the appeal of the accused and public interest.
"A severe punishment must be imposed to serve as a clear and explicit indication that the offence is serious," she said in her judgment dated May 21, which was uploaded through the e-judiciary system.
The court said the victim was undoubtedly helpless to withstand the physical torture inflicted by the accused.
The judge added a fitting punishment must be imposed for this offence, rather than a sentence that merely satisfies the requirements of the law.