KUALA LUMPUR: A worker at an "ikan bakar" restaurant has been sentenced to five years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court after pleading guilty to two charges of sexually assaulting his 11-year-old stepdaughter last year.
Judge Mohd Kafli Che Ali ordered the 37-year-old man to serve his sentence starting from the date of his arrest on Dec 8, 2022.
"The court hands down a jail term of five years and one stroke of the rotan for each charge and the sentences are to run concurrently.
"The accused must also undergo rehabilitation counselling and be put under police surveillance for a year," he said.
The sexual assaults occurred between 4am in mid-August and 2am on Dec 2 at an apartment unit in Kepong.
The charges under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act carries a maximum 20 year jail term and whipping.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Zulkifli Awang requested a lighter sentence as his client needed to support his parents, who suffer from chronic illnesses.
"His guilty plea indicates his remorse, and he has promised not to repeat this mistake. This is his first offence, and I ask the court to consider an appropriate sentence," he said.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Noor Shakira Aliana Alias urged the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to the accused and society at large.
She said the accused should be put on rehabilitation counselling as well as police surveillance for a year.
"In this case, the victim was aged 11 when the offence occurred.
"Based on their relationship, the accused should protect her and not take advantage of her," she said.