Latest news with #Magistrates'Court
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Kajang student pleads guilty to punching teacher in viral case
KAJANG: A 14-year-old student pleaded guilty in court today to punching and injuring his teacher in an incident that went viral on social media. The Form One remove class student admitted to the charge before Magistrate Fatin Dayana Jalil at the Magistrates' Court here. The case was heard in chambers due to the accused being a minor. The teenager was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing hurt to a 29-year-old male teacher at a secondary school on July 28. If convicted, he faces up to one year in jail, a fine of RM2,000, or both. The court deferred sentencing to September 11, pending a social report from the Social Welfare Department. The student's lawyer, S Priyalatha, requested lower bail, citing his age and school status. However, deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Syafiq Mohd Zulbahrin proposed RM5,000 bail, noting the offence's severity and its viral spread online. 'The court allowed bail at RM1,000 with one surety,' said Priyalatha. The student's parents were present during the proceedings. The incident gained attention after a video showed the student allegedly assaulting his teacher.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Pretoria father gets life for raping daughter over 10 years and convincing her it was normal
Pretoria father gets life for raping daughter over 10 years and convincing her it was normal A Pretoria father has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Magistrates' Court for the repeated rape of his daughter over a ten-year period, beginning when she was just nine years old. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the 64-year-old father from Mamelodi appeared in court recently. 'The abuse began when the victim was 9 years old in 2010 and continued until she was 19 in 2020, occurring during weekend and school holidays when the victim would visit her father. 'The mother of the victim and the father were not married; they only shared the child. Before the abuse started, the father told the victim that the abuse was normal in households and warned her not to tell her mother because she had a heart condition.' Mahanjana said in 2018, when the victim was 16 years old, while being raped by her father, the condom broke. 'When the father realised that the condom was broken, he told her to track her menstrual cycle and if she misses it, she should inform him.' When the daughter missed her periods and was pregnant, he gave her R1,500 to terminate the pregnancy. The rapes persisted despite this. She said the abuse came to light in 2021 when the victim started dating and confided in her boyfriend that her father was the only person she had been intimate with, believing it was normal. 'The boyfriend informed the mother, who confronted the daughter. After realising what had been happening was wrong the daughter opened the case at the Mamelodi east police station on January 16 2021 and the father was arrested on the same day.' Mahanjana said in court, the father pleaded not guilty, denying the charges. 'However, Regional Court Prosecutor Anton Burger presented compelling evidence, proving his guilt. 'During sentencing, the father requested leniency, citing his role as a breadwinner for his wife, three other children, and two granddaughters.' Burger opposed this, arguing the lack of remorse, the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV), and the father's betrayal of his duty to protect his daughter. Furthermore, Burger said the father instructed his own daughter to terminate a pregnancy after realising that he was going to father her daughter's child. 'What was more shocking was that the father planned the sexual abuse because he prepared the victim for it before it even started and made her believe it was a normal thing, he added. 'In the Victim Impact Statement (VIS), facilitated by the court preparation officer, Kgomotso Lodi, the victim said she cannot recall life without rape, she lost her teenage years, and she now suffers from depression and low self-esteem.' When handing down the sentence, the Acting Regional Court Magistrate Pierre Wessels said violence against women and children is a pandemic in this country and it was the duty of the courts to combat such offences. The Magistrate furthermore agreed with the state that the man showed no remorse for the offences as such he found no substantial and compelling circumstances to deviate from the sentence of life imprisonment. The court declared the unfit to work with children or possess a firearm, ordered his name added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders, and directed that his two granddaughters be referred to the children's court for investigation and inquiry. 'The NPA welcomes this sentence, reaffirms its dedication to eradicating GBV, a pervasive crisis in South Africa, by supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators face severe consequences. 'This case exemplifies our victim-centred approach and our resolve to foster safe environments where children's rights to dignity and safety are upheld. Together with our justice partners, we call on communities to stand united against GBV, reporting abuse to break the silence and protect the future.' Also read: Hero father gunned down protecting family — just hours before son's 6th birthday Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Seven foreign men charged with kidnapping Bangladeshi businessman
KUALA LUMPUR: Seven foreign men were brought before the Magistrates' Court here on Wednesday (July 30) to face a charge of kidnapping a Bangladeshi businessman last month. The accused comprised two Bangladeshi nationals, Sohel Rana, 40 and Sahajahan, 37, as well as five Myanmar nationals: Abdul Majid Abdul Malik, 25; Soforodin Fozol Korim, 25; Mokhtar Huson Zaher Huson, 26; Mohammad Ismail Azita Rahman, 23 and Mohammad Arafat Hussein Jamal Mustafa, 24. All seven nodded in understanding after the charge was read before Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim. No plea was recorded as the case falls under the jurisdiction of the High Court. They are accused of jointly abducting a 47-year-old Bangladeshi man with the intent of demanding ransom, in front of a mosque in Sentul around 11.30pm on June 26. They were charged under Section 3(1) of the Kidnapping Act 1961, which provides for a sentence of between 30 and 40 years' imprisonment, as well as caning, upon conviction. The court fixed Oct 2 for the next case mention. Deputy public prosecutor Iman Nurhidayah Ezani appeared for the prosecution, while counsel K Komagan represented Sohel Rana. The remaining six accused were unrepresented. – Bernama
Barnama
a day ago
- Barnama
Seven Foreign Men Charged With Kidnapping Bangladeshi Businessman
KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- Seven foreign men were brought before the Magistrates' Court here today to face a charge of kidnapping a Bangladeshi businessman last month. The accused comprised two Bangladeshi nationals, Sohel Rana, 40, and Sahajahan, 37, as well as five Myanmar nationals: Abdul Majid Abdul Malik, 25; Soforodin Fozol Korim, 25; Mokhtar Huson Zaher Huson, 26; Mohammad Ismail Azita Rahman, 23; and Mohammad Arafat Hussein Jamal Mustafa, 24. All seven nodded in understanding after the charge was read before Magistrate Noorelynna Hanim Abd Halim.
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Mamelodi father sentenced to life for decade-long rape of daughter
When the victim became pregnant as a result of rape, her father gave her R1 500 to terminate the pregnancy. A 64-year-old father from Mamelodi has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Pretoria Magistrates' Court for the repeated rape of his daughter for more than ten years. On Wednesday, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence, which also includes additional protective measures for children in the family. The court declared the man unfit to work with children or possess a firearm. His name was ordered to be added to the National Register for Sexual Offenders. The court also directed that his two granddaughters be referred to the children's court for investigation and inquiry. Decade of abuse The systematic abuse began when the victim was just nine years old in 2010 and continued until she reached 19 in 2020. Lumka Mahanjana, NPA Regional Spokesperson for the Gauteng Division in Pretoria, explained that the abuse occurred during specific periods when the child was most vulnerable. 'The abuse occurred during weekends and school holidays when the victim would visit her father,' Mahanjana added. The victim's parents were not married and only shared custody of the child. Continued manipulation and control Before the abuse started, the father employed psychological manipulation to normalise his criminal behaviour. 'Before the abuse started, the father told the victim that the abuse was normal in households,' Mahanjana explained. She said the father warned the victim not to tell her mother because she had a heart condition. This manipulation continued throughout the abuse, keeping the child trapped in a cycle of violence and secrecy. ALSO READ: Jayden-Lee Meek murder: Mother may be killed in jail, says lawyer as she considers bail appeal Pregnancy and forced termination The abuse escalated in 2018 when the victim was 16 years old. During one of the many sexual abuse incidents, while being assaulted by her father, the condom broke. 'When the father realised that the condom was broken, he told her to track her menstrual cycle and if she misses it, she should inform him,' Mahanjana said. According to the NPA, the victim became pregnant as a result of the rape, and her father gave her R1 500 to terminate the pregnancy. Despite this traumatic experience, the sexual abuse continued unabated. Truth emerges The decade-long nightmare came to light in 2021 through an unexpected revelation. The victim had begun dating and confided in her boyfriend about her experiences, still believing her father's lies that such behaviour was normal. She told her boyfriend that her father was the only person she had been intimate with. She genuinely believed this was standard household behaviour due to years of manipulation and grooming. The boyfriend recognised the gravity of the situation and informed the victim's mother. When confronted, the victim finally understood that what had happened to her was criminal abuse. 'After realising what had been happening was wrong, the victim opened the case at the Mamelodi East police station on 16 January 2021, and the father was arrested on the same day,' Mahanjana stated. ALSO READ: Police arrest 183 rape suspects in one week Court proceedings During the trial, the father maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, Regional Court Prosecutor Anton Burger presented compelling evidence that established the father's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutor's case demonstrated the systematic nature of the abuse and the psychological control exercised over the victim. Sentencing arguments When facing sentencing, the father attempted to secure leniency by highlighting his financial responsibilities. 'He cited his role as a breadwinner for his wife, three other children, and two granddaughters.' Burger opposed any reduction in sentence, presenting several aggravating factors. He argued that the father showed no remorse for his crimes and had betrayed his fundamental duty to protect his daughter. Burger also emphasised the broader context of gender-based violence in South Africa and the need for deterrent sentences. The prosecutor highlighted one of the most disturbing aspects of the case. 'Furthermore, Burger said the father instructed his own daughter to terminate a pregnancy after realising that he was going to father his daughter's child,' Mahanjana explained. The systematic nature of the abuse was particularly shocking to court officials. Mahanjana noted that the court found that the father had deliberately planned and prepared for the sexual abuse before it began. ALSO READ: National Assembly agrees to revive motion to investigate statutory rape Rape impact on victim The court heard a Victim Impact Statement facilitated by court preparation officer Kgomotso Lodi. The statement revealed the devastating psychological toll of the prolonged abuse. The victim told the court that she cannot recall life without rape. She described losing her teenage years to the trauma and explained that she now suffers from depression and low self-esteem. Acting Regional Court Magistrate Pierre Wessels delivered a strong message when imposing the life sentence. He contextualised the case within South Africa's broader crisis of violence against women and children. The magistrate described violence against women and children as a pandemic in the country. He emphasised that courts have a duty to combat such offences through appropriate sentencing. The court found no substantial and compelling circumstances that would justify deviating from the mandatory life imprisonment sentence. ALSO READ: Police hunt suspect who raped and hammered 60-year-old Free State woman in her home NPA response Mahanjana emphasised the NPA's commitment to supporting survivors and ensuring accountability. 'The NPA welcomes this sentence, reaffirms its dedication to eradicating GBV, a pervasive crisis in South Africa, by supporting survivors and ensuring perpetrators face severe consequences,' Mahanjana said. She noted that this case exemplifies their resolve to foster safe environments where children's rights to dignity and safety are upheld. The NPA has used this case to issue a broader call for community involvement in combating gender-based violence. Mahanjana said the organisation recognises that legal prosecution alone cannot solve the crisis. Working together with justice partners, the NPA is calling on communities to stand united against gender-based violence. It emphasised and encouraged the reporting of abuse as a way to break the silence and protect future generations. READ NEXT: Khayelitsha court hears disturbing details of seven-year-old's rape and murder
