IPOH: A retired soldier, 42, was sentenced to four years' jail and one stroke of the cane for sexually assaulting his friend's daughter, 12, in March.
The man, who had served 15 years at a camp in Melaka, pleaded guilty to three charges under Section 14(a), Section 14(b) and Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.
The man committed the offences about 3am at a house in Taman Meru Jaya in Kinta, Perak, on March 28.
He was arrested on March 29 and charged on April 2.
Sessions Court judge Hilmiah Yusof, in her judgment dated June 25 published on the judiciary's website, ordered the man to serve four years jail for each charge and whipping for the third case.
The judge ordered the single father of three children, aged between 9 and 13, to serve the sentences concurrently from the date of his arrest.
The prosecution, dissatisfied with the sentence, appealed to the High Court and applied for the accused to serve the jail terms consecutively.
The judge meted out the sentence after evaluating the accused's guilty plea, his age, offence, public interest and his past records.
"The court finds that a long-term imprisonment will have an effect on his children and his mother, who he is supporting as he is the sole breadwinner.
"The court takes note of the accused's health status as well as his contribution to the country as a retired soldier."
The accused, who is supporting his children and aged mother, had appealed for a reduction in sentence, citing kidney and backbone issues and that he had undergone surgery in 2009.
The prosecution had asked the court to impose a severe punishment and appropriate in accordance with the accused's actions and the gravity of the offence.
The sexual assault took place at the victim's house during Ramadan.
The fact of the case read that the victim, who was asleep at the living room, had woken up and saw the accused next to her.
He had sexually assaulted the victim by touching her chest and rubbing his genitals on her for sexual purposes.
The victim was too afraid to do anything. She contacted her aunt and told her what had happened after the accused left.