Priest Gets 15 Years Jail On Birthday For Raping 12 Year Old Girl

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A priest who claimed he wanted to “change the fate” of a 12-year-old schoolgirl was sentenced to 15 years in prison and four strokes of the cane by the Batu Pahat Sessions Court in Johor after being found guilty of raping her in an oil palm plantation four years ago.
Judge Harmi Thamri Mohamad handed down the sentence on Pechimuthu Vethumalay, 53, who coincidentally celebrated his birthday today after ruling that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case.
According to Berita Harian, Harmi said the accused’s defence amounted to a mere denial and afterthought.
“No supporting evidence was presented to substantiate or strengthen the defence, nor to create reasonable doubt against the prosecution’s case. Therefore, a mere bare denial cannot be accepted as reasonable doubt,” he added.
The court found Pechimuthu guilty of an amended charge under Section 376(2)(d) of the Penal Code and ordered the sentence to take effect immediately.
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered that the accused undergo counselling during his incarceration and be placed under police supervision for two years after completing his sentence.
A total of six prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, while the defence called four witnesses, including the accused himself.
According to the charge, Pechimuthu raped the student in an oil palm plantation along Jalan Yong Peng-Labis, Yong Peng, at about 3pm on Sept 28, 2021.
The offence carries a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and caning.
Deputy public prosecutor Sharifah Natasha Syed Ahmad led the prosecution, while the accused was unrepresented.
Based on the charge sheet, the monk had approached the victim’s family, claiming he had a dream and could help improve their lives.
He later took the girl under the pretext of performing a ritual, but instead brought her to an oil palm plantation, where he raped her.
The victim later informed her parents about the incident, prompting them to lodge a police report. - Mkini

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