Local News

8 years, 12 strokes for raping teen
By Siti Hajar
(courtesy of Borneo Buletin)

A 28-year-old Bruneian was sentenced to eight years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane by the Intermediate Court, yesterday, for raping a 13-year-old girl.
In the wee hours of June 26, 2010, Mohammad Izwan raped the 13-year-old girl in a car parked in a thicket in Kuala Belait.

It is understood that about 2.31am, the victim was walking to a friend's house near Pg Anak Puteri Rashidah religious school without her parents' knowledge. This was where Mohd Izwan saw the girl and offered her a lift.

Though the teenager initially declined the offer, the defendant convinced her and said he was a "good person". Believing the defendant, the victim got into the car and sat in the front passenger seat.

The defendant dropped her at her friend's house and returned after 10 minutes to pick up the girl and drove her to a thicket in the vicinity of the Seria bypass highway in Kuala Belait.
The defendant then forced himself on the victim even as she started screaming. Despite her resistance, the defendant raped her.

The defendant then drove the girl to his house and brought her inside. Both left moments later.
Whilst driving, the defendant approached two strangers who were lurking in the vicinity and offered them a lift in his car.

He drove the victim to her home, met the victim's parents at around 4am and convinced them that "he did not do anything" to the girl. Her parents believed his story and the defendant left.
Fear stopped the girl from telling the truth to her parents. However, the victim confided to an aunt later and the latter informed the victim's parents who brought her to the Seria Police Station to report the incident.

The victim was sent for a medical examination at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital where the Medical Officer noted evidence of sexual assault.

Police officers arrested the defendant and upon investigation, he admitted to having raped the victim.

Mohammad Izwan has several previous convictions under Section 379, Section 380, Section 403, Section 324 and Section 451 of the Penal Code and Section 6 (b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act. He has no previous rape convictions.

Things like these do happen in Brunei. I just came across this story while I was at the office browsing through the news online. How sick can a man be?

One piece of advice to all parents, make sure you teach your kids not to talk to strangers. Let alone have a ride. And to kids never go out of the house without your parents knowing.