BRUNEI-MUARA

A LOCAL man who raped a Taiwanese teacher in Tutong last year has had his total jail sentence reduced by a year, after successfully appealing before the High Court last week.

Yurawandy Bujang was initially sentenced 17 years imprisonment with 12 strokes of the cane for four offences involving theft and rape which took place over September 26 to 27, 2014.

Presiding over the Court of Appeal, Justice John Barry Mortimer sitting with Justices Burrell and Leonard decided that the sentences of seven and a half years’ jail for both robbery charges will be reduced to six years.

The sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for the rape charge remains unchanged.

The 12 strokes of the cane will also remain, as it is the minimum required under law.

The order on sentences for each charge to run consecutively and concurrently still stays.

The Court of Appeal Justices in their judgment explained the small reduction in jail time was warranted based on the fact that both acts of robberies “did not entail actual violence”.

Yuranwandy, in his mitigation said he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the offences, claiming to need money desperately to buy drugs.

DPP Rozaimah Rahman appeared for the Public Prosecutor as respondent.

The Brunei Times