KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — The Sessions Court has found independent preacher Muhammad Fathi Na'im Mazlam guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and sentenced him to 15 years in prison and three strokes of the cane.
Judge Noridah Adam handed down the sentence on Fathi, also known as Ustaz Fathi Naim, after finding that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubts against the prosecution’s case at the end of the defence case.
"After hearing arguments from both sides, the court is satisfied with the evidence given throughout the trial. The accused is found guilty and convicted of all three charges," she said.
On the first and second count, the accused was charged with raping the girl in a vehicle at the Dataran Eco World parking lot in Bandar Baru Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor, Selangor, at 3pm and 7pm, in early July and on July 27, 2021.
The charges were framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The father of eight was also found guilty under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for committing physical sexual assault on the same child, at the same place, in June 2021.
The court sentenced him to 15 years in prison and one stroke of the cane on each count, with the prison sentences to be served concurrently from today.
During mitigation, Fathi, unrepresented, told the court that he had three wives. Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur 'Ayuni Jamri appeared for the prosecution.
