MUAR: An unemployed man was jailed 12 years and will receive four strokes of the rotan for raping his best friend's child, who was put to sleep due to severe injury.
Nashhraf Mohd Shafie, 26, who previously underwent Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) in Kelantan four years ago, was meted the sentence after pleading guilty to the charge in front of Sessions Court Judge Sayani Mohd Nor.
The charge stated that he raped the eight-year-old girl at a house in Rengit, Batu Pahat between 8.15pm and 9pm on Sept 29.
The charge under Section 376(2)(c) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 30 years and caning upon conviction.
The facts of the case said before the incident, the victim had been alone in the house, and that he went to the house before committing rape.
The victim suffered bleeding, and was sent to the hospital. Doctors needed to put her to sleep due to her severe injuries.
The facts of the case stated that the accused ran way at 7.30pm on Oct 2 by taking a bus to Terengganu.
Police acted upon information and detained him the next day. He was brought to the Batu Pahat district police headquarters for innvestigation.
Deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir prosecuted, while the accused was unrepresented.
After hearing appeals and arguments from both sides, court sentenced Nashhraf to 12 years jail and four strokes of the rotan. The punishment would begin from the date of his arrest on Oct 3.
The court also directed for him to undergo counseling throughtout his imprisonment and to be placed under police surveillance under Sections 26 and 27 of the Sexual Offences against Children Act 2017.