SANDAKAN, SABAH – A plantation worker has been sentenced to 40 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane for raping his employer’s 10-year-old daughter.

Mohd Ayub Darman, 25, pleaded guilty to the three charges of raping the girl.

He had raped the girl twice at a palm oil plantation at a village in the district, first on Nov 15, 2017 and again on June 5 last year.

Several months later, on Oct 5, he raped her again in a bedroom. It is not known where exactly the third incident took place.

Each charge carries a jail term of not less than 10 years and not more than 30 years, and caning.

The accused was sentenced to 10 years and six strokes of the cane for the first charge, 12 years and eight strokes for the second charge, and 18 years and 10 strokes for the third.

Earlier, the accused, who was not represented, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying he regretted his action and promised to change.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Mark Kenneth Netto asked for a just punishment as the offence was serious and involved a child.

The court also ordered the accused to serve his sentence from the date he was arrested.

Mohd Ayub is also expected to return to Court on Thursday (Oct 24) to face three other charges under Sexual Crimes Against Children Act 2017 and one for entering Sabah without a valid pass.  NEW STRAITS TIMES