MALACCA, MALAYSIA - A former security guard was sentenced to 18 years' jail yesterday for raping his 14-year-old daughter.

The man, of Kampung Ramuan Cina Besar in Alor Gajah, was spared the rotan as he was above 50.

The 51-year-old man pleaded guilty to raping his daughter, then 14 years and nine months, at his home about 8pm on Aug 26 last year.

In passing sentence, Sessions Court judge Zamri Bakar said: "What you did to your daughter is something which is not only serious but an offence which cannot be forgiven."

In appealing for a lenient sentence the accused said he had repented.
"I will not commit the offence again. Furthermore, I have high blood pressure and my health is poor."

Deputy public prosecutor Borhan Osman urged the court to impose the maximum sentence as the facts of the case stated that the father raped his daughter not once, but on six different occasions.

Zamri agreed with the prosecution and said that the case was of public interest.

"I want this to be a message to all. Your sentence should act as a deterrent to others. Since you are 51 years old, I will not order you to be given the rotan. And since you have admitted to committing the offence, I sentence you to 18 years' jail," he said.

According to the facts of the case, he had been raping his daughter since Aug 26 but was found out only on Jan 8, after his daughter complained to her grandmother of stomach discomfort.

A medical check revealed that the girl was 34-weeks pregnant.

The victim and her grandmother lodged a police report on the same day.