An oil palm plantation worker who was accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl six years ago was given jail time and cane strokes by the Sessions Court in Muar, Johor.
The sentence was imposed by judge Mohd Khairi Haron after taking into consideration the accused’s guilty plea and mitigation, as well as arguments presented by the prosecution, reported Berita Harian.
What happened
According to the facts of the case, the accused, Mohd Nazri Mohd Jani, had delivered food to the girl, who was 15 at the time, at her home at around 11am on Dec 19, 2020.
When he discovered that she was all alone in the house, he suddenly hugged her from behind and dragged her toward the bedroom.
Both of them then fell near the bedroom door, with Mohd Nazri landing on top of the girl before forcefully licking her neck, reported China Press.
Following a police report being lodged by the girl, Mohd Nazri was caught at a guard post in an oil palm plantation 10 days later.
He was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
Jailed and caned
Mohd Nazri’s lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) told the court that her client has four children to support and also cares for a father who suffers from diabetes.
She added that her client had fully cooperated with police after his arrest and asked the court to show leniency.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Diyana Najihah Muhamed Fauzi argued that the incident had psychologically scarred the girl for life and urged the court to mete out an appropriate sentence.
The court ordered Mohd Nazri to sit six years in jail and be caned twice.
He was also ordered to undergo counselling while in prison and to remain under police supervision for two years upon his release.
READ ALSO:
