Kota Kinabalu: A 38-year-old man who raped his underaged cousin twice was sentenced to 26 years' jail by the Sessions Court on Wednesday.Judge Azreena Aziz meted out the sentence to the man after he was found guilty of two charges against him.The man was jailed 13 years on each count against him and ordered to serve the jail sentence consecutively.
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The man had raped the 14-year-old girl at 2.30pm on Nov 6, 2015 and 7am on Nov 7, 2015 at a hotel in Sinsuran Complex, here.He was convicted of the offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, on conviction.
Azreena however granted the man's application to stay the execution of sentence pending appeal to the High Court with a condition that he pays the full amount of bail offered to him previously.Earlier, counsel Muhammad Noor who represented the man asked for a lenient sentence saying that his client has a wife and two children to look after and that he was the breadwinner for his family.
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Muhammad also informed the court that the case was the first offence committed by the man.Deputy Public Prosecutor Husna Abdul Halim who conducted the prosecution urged the court to hand down a heavy sentence on the grounds that the man had committed a serious offence against his own relative.
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She said a deterrent sentence must be imposed on him to deter not only him but other would-be offenders.Eight prosecution and two defence witnesses were called during the hearing.