Looks like Riduan Masmud is already turning into a role model for rapists in the country.
Just when the 40-year-old father of two announced that he’s taking his 13-year-old rape victim as his second wife, a Bangladeshi man pleaded leniency for raping an underage, mentally-retarded girl by saying he intended to marry her.
Shirajul Islam, 34, who also fathered a child with the girl, was found guilty by a Sessions Court here for raping the then 17-year-old between January and February 2011.
Shirajul’s counsel, S. Yagoo, helped the grass cutter plead for leniency.
“He is in love with her and he also wants his child back. He has no intention of betraying her. Even after the incident, he still treats her with love and care. He also did not know that she was retarded,” he told the court.
Shirajul received his sentence of 15 years in jail and was ordered to be given 10 strokes of the rotan.
The victim, now 19, broke down in tears as she recounted only spending 14 days with her baby before giving the child up for adoption. The victim’s stepmother said her stepdaughter’s future had been affected in her statement. (Source)
While this incident took place in 2011, it’s already cold hard proof that marriage is now a way for sex offenders to get away with their crimes. Is this how Malaysia aims to protect the rights of women and children?
