PUTRAJAYA, Aug 17 — The Court of Appeal has upheld the 15-year prison sentence and four strokes of the cane imposed on a 76-year-old man for raping an eight-year-old girl eight years ago.
A three-member bench comprising Justices Datuk Noorin Badaruddin, Datuk Mohd Radzi Abdul Hamid and Datuk Meor Hashimi Abdul Hamid unanimously dismissed Ramli Mat's final appeal against his conviction and sentence.
Justice Noorin, who chaired the bench, said the court found no grounds to overturn the decisions of the High Court and Sessions Court.
Ramli, a bachelor, was convicted by the Sessions Court on March 14 last year for raping the girl at a house in Arau, Perlis, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on December 17, 2018.
He received a 15-year prison term and four strokes of the cane. He was 69 at the time.
Ramli's High Court appeal was dismissed on January 15, leading to this final appeal to the Court of Appeal.
During today’s proceedings, his lawyer Norharniza Rusli argued that there was doubt over the rapist's identity due to inconsistencies in the victim's testimony.
She also sought a reduced prison term and exemption from caning, citing Ramli's age, worsening eyesight, and dependence on help for daily tasks.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Eyu Ghim Siang countered that DNA extracted from semen found on a blanket and sarong matched the appellant's DNA.
He urged the court to uphold the conviction, imprisonment and caning, submitting that caning can be imposed on offenders above 50 years old for sexual offences.
Eyu added that Ramli could seek a medical exemption if deemed unfit.
