The Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced a 37-year-old local man, Pengiran Shahirul Hamadi bin Pengiran Haji Jaya, to three years and four months imprisonment, along with two whipping, after he pleaded guilty to outraging the modesty of a 12-year-old girl in a mosque in the Brunei-Muara district.
DPP Nurul Fitri Kiprawi revealed that the defendant committed the offence on August 31. The victim had entered the mosque to rest while her father waited outside in the parking area.
The defendant, who had entered the mosque to use the toilet, noticed the girl, woke her up, and engaged her in conversation before molesting her. Alarmed by the assault, the girl ran to her father, who immediately filed a police report. The defendant fled the scene but was apprehended by the Royal Brunei Police Force on September 3.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate Syaffina binti Shahif emphasised the gravity of the offence, highlighting the violation of the young victim’s dignity and integrity. The court stressed the girl’s vulnerability due to her age, compounded by the distress caused as indicated in the victim impact statement. The Magistrate also noted the aggravating factor of the crime taking place in a mosque, a place of worship meant to offer peace and safety, making the defendant’s actions particularly heinous.
The court concurred with the Prosecution’s argument that the defendant demonstrated a pattern of predatory behaviour, requiring a deterrent sentence. The court also noted that the defendant had not reformed following a prior conviction in 2018 for a similar offence involving a school student. – FADLEY FAISAL
