According to a media release, a 42-year-old man who was sentenced to 28 years of jail with 24 strokes of the cane for outraging the modesty of his step-daughter was spared from the cane after he was found medically unfit for caning.
The man was given an additional 12 months of jail in lieu of caning.
The man had abused his stepdaughter for a period of 7 years. The man first molested his stepdaughter when she was 6-year-old. Subsequently, his abuse towards her had become more perverted.
The girl had attempted to ask the man to stop groping her but the man then told her that her body belongs to him and he could touch her anywhere he wants.
Eventually, the girl took the courage to report the crime in 2018 after the man tried to violate her when she was getting ready for school.
The man pleaded guilty to one charge of rape and two charges of sexual assault by penetration. He was later certified as unfit for caning due to a spine condition. According to the law, a person who is unfit to be caned, the court can revoke the sentence of caning or impose an additional jail term in lieu of caning.