A travel company agent was sentenced to five years in prison and two strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here today after pleading guilty to physically sexually assaulting a 17-year-old public university student while transporting her to a booked destination through an e-hailing service three years ago.
Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya handed down the sentence after accepting the guilty plea from Mohd Shahremy Abdul Raset, 31, and convicting him on the charge.
Based on the charge, the accused was found to have committed a sexual offence against the victim, who was 17 at the time, inside a Perodua Myvi while travelling from Balung River Eco Resort to Shanshui Resort, Batu 9, Jalan Apas, between 7.15pm and 7.22pm on Dec 9, 2023.
The offence was charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
According to the facts of the case, the victim had contacted the accused to obtain e-hailing services before he allegedly took advantage of the situation and committed the sexual offence while driving her to the destination.
The accused, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, pleaded for a lighter sentence, citing that he was the sole breadwinner for his family and supported his unemployed wife and two children aged two and four.
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Haikal Hazwan Md Yatin urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence, taking into account the seriousness of the offence and public interest.
The court ordered the prison sentence to take effect from July 3 and directed the accused to undergo rehabilitation counselling throughout his imprisonment period under Section 26 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
He was also ordered to remain under police supervision for two years after completing his prison term in accordance with Section 27 of the same Act.
