Judge Azman Abdullah passed the sentence after allowing the prosecution’s appeal to increase the sentence on J Ravichandran, 43, a security supervisor and father of two, imposed by the Sessions Court.

However, Azman retained the five lashes meted out to Ravichandran by the Sessions Court after it found him guilty of raping a girl aged 15 years 11 months four years ago.

Azman gave the verdict after considering the girl’s age at the time, Ravichandran’s betrayal of the trust the victim’s parents had in him, and the trauma suffered by the victim.

However, he allowed the request from counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who represented the accused, to delay the sentence until an appeal had been filed at the Appeals Court.

Azman also maintained bail at RM20,000.