Kuala lumpur: A former wushu coach was today sentenced to 13 years in prison and four strokes of the cane by the Sessions Court here after being found guilty of committing physical sexual assault against a 10-year-old girl. Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar handed down the sentence after ruling that the defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt in the case against Gjeblehim Bong Teck Fuu, 34.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the court imposed a 13-year imprisonment sentence starting immediately, along with four strokes of the cane. The accused is also mandated to undergo counselling during his imprisonment and will be placed under police supervision for three years post-release. An application for a stay of execution by defence counsel Tharamjit Singh, pending an appeal to the High Court, was dismissed by the court.

Bong was charged with the offence during his tenure as the victim’s coach, a position of trust, at a premises in Taman Sri Sentosa, Jalan Klang Lama, around 7.30 pm on April 13, 2022. Charges were brought under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, in conjunction with Section 16(1) of the same Act. Section 14(a) allows for a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping, while Section 16(1) prescribes a jail term of up to five years and a minimum of two strokes of the cane upon conviction.

In mitigation, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency, highlighting the accused’s responsibility to care for his elderly mother. However, deputy public prosecutor Nur Shakila Mohd Shariff advocated for a harsher sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the offence and its lasting psychological impact on the victim. She argued that the victim, being a child, warranted the highest level of legal protection and that the accused had exploited her vulnerability and trust.

During the trial, the court heard testimonies from eight prosecution witnesses and three defence witnesses, including the accused.