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