The Kuala Lumpur sessions court today sentenced independent preacher Fathi Na’im Mazlam to 15 years in prison and three strokes of the cane for raping and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Judge Noridah Adam ruled that the defence had failed to raise any reasonable doubts in the prosecution’s case, Bernama reported.
“After hearing arguments from both sides, the court is satisfied with the evidence given. The accused is found guilty and convicted of all three charges,” she said.
On the first and second counts, Fathi, also known as Ustaz Fathi Naim, was found guilty of raping the girl in a vehicle at the Dataran Eco World parking lot in Bandar Baru Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor, at 3pm in early July and again at 7pm on July 27, 2021.
The charges were framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
On the third count, he was convicted under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for physically sexually assaulting the same victim at the same location in June 2021.
During mitigation, the father of eight, who was unrepresented, told the court he had three wives.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur ‘Ayuni Jamri appeared for the prosecution.
