KOTA KINABALU: A 30-year-old man was jailed for 10 years by the Sessions Court here yesterday for abusing his eight-year-old step-daughter.
Judge Azreena Aziz imposed the fine on Andri Hamizi Yuan @ Antonius after he pleaded guilty to the offence in the midst of his trial.
The prosecution had called four witnesses during the trial before the accused pleaded guilty yesterday.
Andri had abused the girl at the SFI Residential in Sipitang between June 29 and July 3, 2019, which is an offence under Section 31(1)(a) of the Children Act 2001.
The indictment provides for a maximum fine of RM50,000 or jail term of up to 20 years or both, upon conviction.
In mitigation, the accused pleaded for leniency while deputy public prosecutor, Siti Amirah Muhammad Ali urged for deterrent sentence as the offence is serious.
Based on the facts of the case, a teacher found the victim’s behaviour had changed in school – she looked depressed and aggressive when playing with friends.
The teacher, who is also the complainant of the case, found a bruise and slight swelling on the victim’s left arm. She claimed her stepfather had beaten her and she was taken to Sipitang Hospital thereafter for a thorough check-up.
On July 4, 2019, the victim was diagnosed as being abused prompting the complainant to lodge a police report which led to the arrest of the accused on the same day.
Further investigation revealed that the victim’s mother knew about the victim being abused. She also saw the accused hit her daughter’s her arms and legs with clothes hanger, pinch her and even slap her in the mouth which bled as a result.
The mother told her husband to stop but the accused scolded his wife instead.
So the wife kept silent since she was also pregnant and she just nursed the injured victim.
According to the victim’s Child Interview Center recording conducted on July 17, 2019, the victim said she got hit all over her body by the accused almost everyday, with or without the presence of her mother.
The court was told that the accused used a piece of wood, rattan and his hands to beat the victim.
He also punched her mouth until she bled.
The victim showed marks or injuries on her body in court.
Medical report showed that there are injuries on her lips, shoulders and left thigh inflicted by her abusive stepfather.