MELAKA - A man has pleaded guilty in the Sessions Court here today to 32 charges of rape, sexual assault and using sex objects on his stepdaughter over the past three years.
The 36-year-old man confessed after all the charges were read out in two separate proceedings before Judges Mohd Sabri Ismail and Darmafikri Abu Adam.
The court then set May 15 as the date of sentence while waiting for full facts of the sentence.
The accused, who faces a maximum 830 years imprisonment for all charges was not granted bail, for purpose of protecting the victim and to ensure he is present in court.
The accused who worked as a swimming class instructor pleaded guilty in both proceedings, to all 32 charges which were 12 charges of rape under Section 376(2) of the Penal Code (KK) and Section 376(1) of the Penal Code.
He also pleaded guilty to 12 counts of sexual assault according to Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 and eight counts of having sex using objects under Section 377 CA of the Penal Code.
All of the offences were allegedly committed on a teenage girl who is now 16 years old between January 2020 to March 14, 2023 at a house here.
The prosecution were handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhamad Nazrin Ali Rahim and N Sivashangari.
Throughout the proceedings, the long-haired accused simply lowered his head and pleaded guilty to all charges, and he did not submit any appeal for a lighter sentence.
In the meantime, Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code provides a maximum 20 years imprisonment and whipping, if convicted for each charge, while Section 376 (2) carries no less than 10 years of imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years of prison term with whipping.
While Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 carries imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping.
For every offence of having sex using an object, according to Section 377CA of the Penal Code it can be sentenced to a minimum of five years and a maximum of 30 years of prison and whipping, if convicted.
On April 9, Sinar Harian had reported that a couple was remanded for seven days to help investigation into a teenage girl rape case.
The couple was arrested by the police as they had arrived from Sabah at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 at about 9.30pm last Saturday.
The arrest was made after the victim, who was previously reported missing, lodged a report stating she was raped by her stepfather.
The victim's mother, who is the suspect's wife, was also arrested because she was believed to have known about her husband's heinous act.