The man, a former part-time security guard, began to molest his daughter at home in 2002 when she was 10 years old. The rapes started when she was 12. He would creep into the room and rape her on the double-decker bed that she shared with her younger sister. The mother of two girls was the man’s mistress. The family lived in a four room flat. The man was married with a wife and son who lived elsewhere. The repeated sexual abuse came to light when the girl told her aunt about what had happened. The aunt told the girl’s mother and both decided to report to the police. The man was arrested the next day and confessed to raping and molesting his daughter.
The highest court’s sentenced the man to 24 years behind bars and send out a signal that a tough stance will be taken against sex offenders who prey on their own children. “Rape is one of the most serious offences in the statures, more so in this case when it is perpetrated by a father against his biological daughter of tender age” said Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong. “ The sentence must reflect the abhorrent nature with which this kind of offence is viewed in our society.” The case came before three judges court after prosecutors appealed against the man’s original 16 years jail term, hand down last year.
The trial judge has imposed a total of 16 years. The offence carries up to 20 years of jail per charge, as well as at least 12 strokes of the cane. The man was spared caning due to his age. The DPP argued that the trial judge had imposed an “overly lenient” sentence.
The trial judge had placed too much emphasis on the fact that the girl and her family had written letters pleading leniency, saying they had forgiven the man. It is not beyond reasonable contemplation that the victim penned the letters in the misguided hope of keeping the family intact or as a result of indirect pressure by other family members.
The man who was not represented in court pleaded for compassion. “The pain and shame in my heart will remain with me.” he said. He urged the court to let him spend his twilight years with his family so he could make amends. What is done cannot be undone and the man has to pay for the consequences of his action. What I fear for him is the fact that he will have to live in shame and pain when he is serving his jail term facing other criminal offenders within the confined space, a another different world.
The highest court’s sentenced the man to 24 years behind bars and send out a signal that a tough stance will be taken against sex offenders who prey on their own children. “Rape is one of the most serious offences in the statures, more so in this case when it is perpetrated by a father against his biological daughter of tender age” said Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong. “ The sentence must reflect the abhorrent nature with which this kind of offence is viewed in our society.” The case came before three judges court after prosecutors appealed against the man’s original 16 years jail term, hand down last year.
The trial judge has imposed a total of 16 years. The offence carries up to 20 years of jail per charge, as well as at least 12 strokes of the cane. The man was spared caning due to his age. The DPP argued that the trial judge had imposed an “overly lenient” sentence.
The trial judge had placed too much emphasis on the fact that the girl and her family had written letters pleading leniency, saying they had forgiven the man. It is not beyond reasonable contemplation that the victim penned the letters in the misguided hope of keeping the family intact or as a result of indirect pressure by other family members.
The man who was not represented in court pleaded for compassion. “The pain and shame in my heart will remain with me.” he said. He urged the court to let him spend his twilight years with his family so he could make amends. What is done cannot be undone and the man has to pay for the consequences of his action. What I fear for him is the fact that he will have to live in shame and pain when he is serving his jail term facing other criminal offenders within the confined space, a another different world.
.JPG)
