Harian Metro reported that Muar sessions court judge Irwan Suainbon pronounced the sentence on the 36-year-old after the court ruled that he had failed to raise a reasonable doubt to the prosecution’s case.

Irwan said the accused’s defence to the charge was merely a bare denial.

“The defence presented by the accused also failed to refute the prosecution’s prima facie case.

“The court has determined that the prosecution has successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“The court also found that the statement from the accused’s wife, who was the 11th defence witness, was a fabrication and cannot be believed,” he said.

Hamim was accused of raping a married woman, who was 19 years old at the time, in a house in Taman Sri Jaya, Bukit Gambir, Tangkak, Johor, between 1pm and 2.05pm on Sept 26, 2019.

He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code with rape, which provides for up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a whipping upon conviction.

Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Arif Marzuki asked the court to consider the public interest, the seriousness of the crime, and the trauma inflicted when sentencing.

“It is even more appalling that the victim had just suffered a miscarriage a few days prior to the rape,” he said.

The court said Hamim’s jail sentence would run from the date of his arrest on Aug 7, 2021.

He is currently serving another four-year sentence for extortion by threat of accusation of an offence, under Section 388 of the Penal Code.

The Tangkak magistrates’ court also sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment on Jan 20, 2022, for escaping custody on Dec 15, 2021.

He was charged under Section 224 of the Penal Code, which provides for up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.