Kuala Lumpur: A Malaysian Court has cut down the 75-year jail sentence of a rubber tapper, who was convicted of raping his step daughter, saying that trial judges must be guided by law and not blinded by emotion and reacting vengefully.

The tapper, a Thai national, was convicted of raping his step daughter when she was 13-year-old and continued his attack till she gave a birth to his child two years later.

The appeal court judge said the accused's act was "cannibalistic in nature" and added that "you are lucky as the law is not as evil as you are."

The Sessions Court in 2004 sentenced him to 15 years jail on each count, with the sentences to run consecutively, and 10 lashes for each count. He pleaded guilty to all five charges.

This meant he would have to serve a total of 75 years jail term and 50 lashes.

The High Court upheld the sentence. The judge said it was illogical for the tapper to serve a 75-year jail term as he was now 48 years old, the New Straits Times said today.

"It is not possible for him to come out of prison alive after serving the sentence. The prison term imposed must be logical even if one is angry with him."

The appellate court then ordered the accused to be sentenced 15 years jail and four lashes on the first count, and another 15 years and five lashes on the second, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Suriyadi sentenced him to 15 years jail and five lashes on each of the remaining three counts, to run concurrently with the first and second counts.

This means he will now serve a 30-year jail term and receive a total of 24 lashes.
Source : PTI