TAWAU: A 32-year-old illegal immigrant was arrested at a plantation building in Kalabakan, last Saturday, on suspicion of raping his nine-year-old stepdaughter.
District Police Chief, ACP Jasmin Hussin, said the suspect’s arrest followed a police report filed by his ex-wife, in her 30s, at the Kalabakan Police Station at 10.15am.
Initial investigations revealed that the alleged incident occurred several months ago but had not been reported earlier due to threats made by the suspect, who allegedly warned his ex-wife that he would harm and kill their child if she reported the matter to the authorities.
The victim disclosed the rape to her mother on Jan 20 at their home, which led to the filing of a police report out of concern that the incident might happen again.
“The minor victim had been cared for by her stepfather,” Jasmin said in a media statement, last Saturday.
Following the report, police officers from the Kalabakan Police Station conducted an operation and arrested the suspect at a plantation building in Kalabakan.
The suspect is currently in police custody to assist with the investigation under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code for rape, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and caning if convicted.
Meanwhile, Jasmin urged the public to remain vigilant about domestic violence and child abuse issues and encouraged anyone with information about such incidents to report them to the authorities for appropriate action.
