MUAR: An e-hailing driver, 37, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and five strokes of the rotan for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old male student.
The accused, Jack Samai, pleaded for leniency, before sessions court judge Sayani Mohd Nor.
He faced three charges of physical sexual assault under Section 14 (a) and (b) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison along with rotan for each charge.
The court heard that the offences occurred on the night of Oct 3, while the victim was being driven home from a tuition centre.
After getting into Jack's car on Jalan Putera Indah, the victim reported that Jack touched him inappropriately before stopping the car by the roadside.
Traumatised by the encounter, the victim did not attend school for a week and later confided in a teacher about the incident.
The prosecution was led by deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir, while Jack appeared without legal representation.
The court imposed a sentence of five years and three strokes for the first charge on Jack, followed by three years and one stroke each for the second and third charges.
The prison terms will run concurrently from Oct 9, the day he was arrested.
The court mandated that Jack undergo counselling and police supervision upon completion of his sentence, in accordance with Sections 26 and 27 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act.