Indian-origin cab driver jailed for 24 years in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur: An Indian-origin taxi driver was today sentenced to 24 years in jail by a Malaysian court in Kuala Lumpur for sexually assaulting and robbing a 31-year-old woman passenger two years ago.

The 30-year-old driver, identified as M Saravanan, was sentenced to 12 years in jail by a sessions court which also ordered authorities to whip the convict three times for forcing the woman to perform oral sex on him.

He was handed two additional sentences of five years and seven years respectively, for molesting and robbing the woman.

The court ruled that the offence would badly affect the country's image, especially the important tourism industry.

Saravanan's counsel urged the court to consider his client's background while sentencing as he comes from a very poor family and had received only seven years of education.

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But, the Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Gin Han argued that his education was sufficient to teach him not to commit such an act, to which the judge agreed.

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