A SESSIONS Court in Johor has sentenced a 39-year-old man to 10 years’ imprisonment and five strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to raping a woman with multiple disabilities, in a case that underscored the exploitation of a highly vulnerable victim.
Judge Madihah Zainol handed down the sentence after the accused admitted to the charge as soon as it was read to him in court.
According to the charge sheet, the man raped a 29-year-old woman, fully aware that she had physical disabilities, including hearing and speech impairments as well as a learning disability, at the time of the offence.
The incident took place at a house near Taman Jaya Mas in Skudai at about 11.50pm on 30 January.
The offence was prosecuted under Section 376(2)(k) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and mandatory whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nor Fadilah Johanuddin led the prosecution, while the accused was represented pro bono by counsel Omar Kutty Abdul Aziz.
In mitigation, the defence told the court that the accused had expressed remorse for his actions.
“The accused works as a security guard earning RM2,200 per month. He suffers from HIV and leukaemia or blood cancer.
“The health conditions require him to make frequent hospital visits for treatment. The accused also carries out charitable work at temples and has no prior criminal record,” counsel said.
However, in urging for a deterrent sentence, the prosecution emphasised the public interest and the vulnerability of the victim.
“The accused took advantage of the victim who has physical disabilities, namely speech and hearing impairments as well as a learning disability.
“Based on the mitigation that the accused is living with HIV, this means his actions exposed the victim to the risk of sexually transmitted disease.
“We seek a proportionate sentence that serves as a lesson and request that the accused be placed under police supervision and undergo rehabilitative counselling,” Nor Fadilah said.
The court ordered that the custodial sentence and caning be accompanied by mandatory rehabilitative counselling throughout the prison term, as well as one year of police supervision upon release. - March 27, 2026
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