 A 75-year-old former driving instructor begins an eight-year jail term after the Court of Appeal reinstates his conviction for sexually assaulting a teen.
PUTRAJAYA: A 75-year-old former driving school instructor began serving an eight-year jail sentence after the Court of Appeal reinstated his conviction for sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
A three-member bench allowed the prosecution’s appeal, setting aside the High Court’s earlier decision to acquit and discharge Lim Yoke Pin.
Justice Datuk Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz, delivering the court’s decision, said the victim was consistent in her testimony that Lim had groped her breasts and genitals.
She also stated there was no evidence to show the victim had a motive to frame Lim.
However, the court considered Lim’s age and reduced his original sentence.
It set aside the 12-year prison term and three strokes of the cane imposed by the Sessions Court, replacing it with an eight-year prison sentence starting immediately.
The Raub Sessions Court had initially found Lim guilty of the offence, which occurred in Bentong in March 2021.
The High Court later acquitted him last year, prompting the prosecution to appeal.
Deputy public prosecutor Zaki Asyraf Zubir argued the High Court erred in facts and law when it acquitted Lim.
He said the Sessions Court judge had found the victim’s testimony to be unusually convincing.
Lim’s lawyer, Chong Pei Yen, urged the court to uphold the acquittal, arguing the victim did not report the incident to police immediately.
