Indonesian man jailed 13 years for causing death of daughter's rapist

TAWAU: An Indonesian man was sentenced to 13 years in prison by the High Court here today after pleading guilty to an alternative charge of causing the death of his compatriot in August 2024.

Judicial Commissioner Steve Ritikos imposed the sentence on the 30-year-old man, who was initially charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code before the charge was amended to an alternative charge under Section 304(a) of the same law.

The court ordered the sentence to take effect from the date of his arrest on Sept 2, 2024.

He will also be referred to the Immigration Department after completing his prison sentence.

According to the charge, the father of six caused the death of the 33-year-old victim at an unnumbered house here between 7.30pm on Aug 31, 2024, and noon on Sept 1, 2024.

The charge under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years and a fine upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Nisla Abd Latif appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Jhessery P. Kang.

According to the facts of the case, the incident occurred after the accused's daughter, then 12, told her mother that she had been raped by the victim while returning from a social gathering on the night of the incident.

After learning of the matter, the accused took a parang and searched for the victim.

He then chased the man to a nearby chicken coop and slashed him several times.

An examination at Tawau Hospital found fresh tears to the private parts of the accused's daughter.

An analysis by the Chemistry Department Malaysia found the victim's DNA on the girl's fingernail clippings.

The DNA profile from semen found on her underwear also matched that of the victim.

Police also seized the parang used in the incident from the accused when he was arrested at his home on Sept 2, 2024.