A TEMPLE priest accused of raping a student in an oil palm plantation four years ago, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and four strokes of the cane after being found guilty by the Batu Pahat Sessions Court today.
Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad made the decision after the accused, Pechimuthu Vethumalay, 53, who celebrates his birthday today, failed to raise any reasonable doubt to defeat the prosecution's case against him.
In delivering the decision, Harmi Thamri said the confession made by the accused in his defence was more of a denial and an afterthought.
"No supporting evidence was given to enable or strengthen his defence. In this regard, a mere empty denial is not something that can be included as reasonable doubt.
"The court finds the accused guilty of the amended charge under Section 376 (2) (d) of the Penal Code. The court sentences him to 15 years in prison and four strokes of the cane with the sentence effective from the day of conviction (today)," he said.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the accused to undergo counselling throughout his detention and police supervision for two years upon completion of his sentence.
A total of six prosecution witnesses were called to testify throughout the trial while the accused presented four witnesses including himself at the defence stage.
According to the charge, the accused was charged with raping a 12-year-old student (at the time of the incident) in an oil palm plantation on Jalan Yong Peng-Labis, Yong Peng, at 3 pm, on September 28, 2021.
Section 376 (2) (d) provides for imprisonment of up to 30 years and shall be subject to whipping if convicted.
At the proceedings, the prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad while the accused was not represented.
Based on the facts of the case, the accused met the victim's family and told them that he had a dream to help them who were living in hardship to become happy.
The accused then took the victim, supposedly for a ceremony, but instead took her to an oil palm plantation and raped her.
The victim then returned home and told her parents about the incident before filing a police report. - October 31, 2025
