Rapist jailed for 5 years

Rapist jailed for 5 years

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Kendari District Court in
Southeast Sulawesi sentenced on Thursday a 45-year-old man to
five years in prison for raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter,
Sumarni.

Amiruddin, who has four wives, was found guilty of rape, judge
Anami Salihi told the court.

The convict, who was not accompanied by lawyers, said he was
considering filing an appeal against the verdict in one week.

The five-year sentence was in line with the legal demand by
prosecutor Helmy Alwi.

"I do regret my actions, but the penalty imposed on me is too
heavy," Amiruddin said.

The case was brought to court following a report from one of
the defendant's wives, Sugira, who is the mother of the victim.

Sugira said she caught her husband sexually assaulting her
daughter in their bedroom on June 6, 2001, after returning home
from working at a rubber plantation.

In her testimony, Sumarni said she had been raped several
times by her stepfather, but added that she was afraid of telling
her mother because he had threatened to kill her. --Antara