According to a media release, a 30-year-old man was jailed for 26 months with 3 strokes of the cane for physically and sexually abusing his then 7-year-old stepdaughter. The man intended to claim trial for his charges but end up pleading guilty for hitting the victims.
The incident happened in 2014, the man got furious at the girl for refusing to wash dishes. He then hit her with a foldable chair on the back of her head and her arms. she was also hit in her leg by his stepfather with a guitar.
The police were alerted after the girl told her biological father about the incident. Due to the incident, the girl and her sister moved in with their biological father until 2018 before moving back with their mother.
After a few months later, the girl was sexually abused by her stepfather on 21 Oct 2018, the man has pulled down her pants and underwear and rubbed himself against her.
The police were alerted again after the girl seeks help from her maternal aunt.
According to the law, anyone convicted for ill-treating a child could be jailed for up to 4 years, fine up to $4,000 or both. Anyone convicted for molesting a minor under 14, could be jailed for up to 5 years, fined, caned or any combination of the 3.