UNB, Dhaka :
A Bangladeshi worker was sentenced to 17 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane for abducting and raping a woman at knifepoint in broad daylight at MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore, reports The Straits Times.
The convicted is Pramanik Liton, 24, a construction worker.
Justice Choo Han Teck found the 24-year-old construction worker guilty of two counts of aggravated rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of abduction for illicit intercourse.
It was the first case to fall under a new framework
for sentencing rapists, which was spelt out by the apex court last week.
The framework sets out three sentencing bands, corresponding to the severity of the rape and various aggravating factors. Deputy Public Prosecutor Stella Tan noted that Liton’s offences would come under Band 2, where there are two or more aggravating factors. This band carries a sentencing range of 13 to 17 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane.
“Taking into consideration Terence Ng and the prosecution’s sentencing submissions, I am of the view that the global sentence should reflect the seriousness of the offences,” Justice Choo said, referring to the case of cobbler Terence Ng Kean Meng, 46, who appealed against his sentence for statutory rape. The chance to review the framework arose from that case.
The previous framework divided rapes into four categories: Those with no aggravating or mitigating factors, those with specific aggravating factors, multiple rapes, and those committed by offenders who will remain a threat to society. But the four categories did not cover the full spectrum of circumstances in which rape may be committed, the apex court had said.
DPP Tan, in asking for a total sentence of at least 20 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane, listed six aggravating factors specific to the offences. They included how Liton had further violated the victim, a 39-year-old Chinese national, to get rid of any semen as he was afraid she would get pregnant. This caused her significant pain and left her deeply scarred, she said.
Delivering his verdict after a three-day trial, Justice Choo said the victim’s evidence was “clear, cogent and consistent”, while Liton’s was “bizarre and incomprehensible”.
In an unusual turn on Thursday, Liton told the court he did not have sex with the victim because she had died from fear. This, despite the fact that she is alive and testified that Liton attacked her. He was in court when she took the stand. Addressing Liton, Justice Choo said: “Clearly, she had not (died) or this would have been the world’s first supernatural trial. I see nothing supernatural, only a traumatised woman who has convinced me that you committed the offences upon which you are being tried.”
Liton’s sentence will be backdated to his arrest. For each charge of aggravated rape, he could have been sentenced to between eight and 20 years in jail and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
A Bangladeshi worker was sentenced to 17 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane for abducting and raping a woman at knifepoint in broad daylight at MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore, reports The Straits Times.
The convicted is Pramanik Liton, 24, a construction worker.
Justice Choo Han Teck found the 24-year-old construction worker guilty of two counts of aggravated rape, one count of sexual assault by penetration and one count of abduction for illicit intercourse.
It was the first case to fall under a new framework
for sentencing rapists, which was spelt out by the apex court last week.
The framework sets out three sentencing bands, corresponding to the severity of the rape and various aggravating factors. Deputy Public Prosecutor Stella Tan noted that Liton’s offences would come under Band 2, where there are two or more aggravating factors. This band carries a sentencing range of 13 to 17 years in jail and 12 strokes of the cane.
“Taking into consideration Terence Ng and the prosecution’s sentencing submissions, I am of the view that the global sentence should reflect the seriousness of the offences,” Justice Choo said, referring to the case of cobbler Terence Ng Kean Meng, 46, who appealed against his sentence for statutory rape. The chance to review the framework arose from that case.
The previous framework divided rapes into four categories: Those with no aggravating or mitigating factors, those with specific aggravating factors, multiple rapes, and those committed by offenders who will remain a threat to society. But the four categories did not cover the full spectrum of circumstances in which rape may be committed, the apex court had said.
DPP Tan, in asking for a total sentence of at least 20 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane, listed six aggravating factors specific to the offences. They included how Liton had further violated the victim, a 39-year-old Chinese national, to get rid of any semen as he was afraid she would get pregnant. This caused her significant pain and left her deeply scarred, she said.
Delivering his verdict after a three-day trial, Justice Choo said the victim’s evidence was “clear, cogent and consistent”, while Liton’s was “bizarre and incomprehensible”.
In an unusual turn on Thursday, Liton told the court he did not have sex with the victim because she had died from fear. This, despite the fact that she is alive and testified that Liton attacked her. He was in court when she took the stand. Addressing Liton, Justice Choo said: “Clearly, she had not (died) or this would have been the world’s first supernatural trial. I see nothing supernatural, only a traumatised woman who has convinced me that you committed the offences upon which you are being tried.”
Liton’s sentence will be backdated to his arrest. For each charge of aggravated rape, he could have been sentenced to between eight and 20 years in jail and at least 12 strokes of the cane.
