A man was sentenced to 20 years’ jail and ordered to be given 10 strokes of the cane for raping a teenage girl until she became pregnant and gave birth. — Reuters file pic

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 20 — A man was today sentenced to 20 years’ jail and ordered to be given 10 strokes of the cane for raping a neighbour’s teenage daughter until she became pregnant and gave birth.

The Star reported that Jikau Gani, 52, pleaded guilty to the charge before Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz. He had previously served 10 years in jail for a similar offence in 2002.

Azreena also ordered Jikau to pay a compensation of RM10,000 to the now 14-year-old victim, or spend another six months in jail. Jikau will also be placed under police supervision for two years upon completing his sentence.

The victim reportedly gave birth on Jan 24 this year, and a DNA test confirmed Jikau to be the baby’s biological father.

According to the English daily, Jikau was not represented and pleaded for leniency but Deputy Public Prosecutor Husna Abdul Halim called for a deterrent sentence on the grounds that he had not only committed a heinous crime but was also unremorseful.