Truck driver gets 14 years in prison for raping a minor girlfriend

KOTA KINABALU: A truck driver was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sandakan Sessions Court on Tuesday (Nov 12) for raping his underage girlfriend.

Judge Zaini Fishir @ Fisal imposed the sentence on Mohd Zaman Kamrud Zaman, 20, after he pleaded guilty to two charges of raping a 14-year-old girl in August and September this year.

For the first charge, the court ordered the suspect to serve six years in prison from the date of his arrest on September 10. For the second charge, he was sentenced to eight years and two lashes, with the prison terms running concurrently.

The charges were filed under Article 376(1) of the Criminal Code, which provides for a prison sentence of up to 20 years and lashing upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, Mohd Zaman committed the first offense on August 14 at Rancangan Sungai Manila in Sandakan, riding in the back of a four-wheel drive vehicle.

For the second charge, the man was accused of raping the girl in her room in a village in Sandakan on September 9.

The suspect went to the girl’s room again at 1 a.m. on October 10, but was discovered by her mother when she entered the room.

The girl’s relative then reported the incident to the police. Later, on September 10, the suspect was taken to the station and handed over to the police for next action.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Azizi Hamil appeared for the prosecution while the suspect was unrepresented.