2007 05: Youth jailed nine years for raping 14-year-old

The Star online. News. Courts. Thursday May 10, 2007

SHAH ALAM: A 19-year-old youth was jailed for nine years yesterday for raping a 14-year-old last year.

Mohd Shamsul Hashim admitted committing the offence at a house in Kampung Pasir in Hulu Yam Baru, Hulu Selangor, between 1pm and 3pm on Aug 13, 2006.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Azmeer Mohd Sardi asked for a deterrent sentence, saying Mohd Shamsul's guilty plea should be no reason for a lighter sentence.

“The girl was only 14. He should not have taken advantage of a minor. In this case, the accused has no right to ask for sympathy for his disgusting and ignoble act,” said Azmeer.

“He has destroyed the girl's future. Imagine the trauma she’s facing,” he added.

Defence counsel Hani Aziza Ismail said her client was still young and should be given a chance to change.

She said Mohd Shamsul should be sent to a rehabilitation centre rather than prison, where he might be influenced by hardened prisoners.

Sessions Court judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof ordered the jail term to start from the day of Mohd Shamsul’s arrest on Sept 30 last year.

In another case at the same court, two men were charged with raping a 24-year-old teacher.
Azahir Fadzil, 33, and Mahathir Azhar Mohd Khairy, 45, allegedly committed the offence in a car near a forest in the Kundang industrial area in Rawang.

Azahir, who is being held at the Tapah Prison for three crime cases that are still pending, asked to be remanded there because he had to attend court proceedings in Tapah this month.

Zabariah set bail at RM5,000 with one surety each and fixed June 18 for mention.