Rapist's a good son, says mum

"HE was a good son".

There were the first words from the mother of Ismail Shah Abdul Wahab, 24, was was yesterday sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and six stroke of the rotan for raping a 15-year-old girl.

The incident took place near a bush behind Sekolah Menengah Hulu Kelang, between 4.50pm and 6pm on Aug 19, 2004.

The antique dealer from Perak was also sentenced to 10 years' jail for forcing the girl to perform oral sex on him at the same time and place, and four more strokes of the rotan.

Speaking to The Malay Mail, his mother, who came to the Ampang Session Court with a daughter, said her family could not believe when they first learnt about his offences.

"He is a hard-working and soft-spoken man. He had never done anything to hurt his wife. Now, we are ashamed to face out relatives who would ask about him," said the woman, who appeared calm while talking to his son after the sentencing.

Ismail, a father of one was seen covering his mouth with a small towel most of the time.

He was arrested on Feb 18, 2005, following a police report lodged by the girl.

Ismail has previous convictions for rape, sodomy, wrongful confinement and forcing oral sex on victims aged 12, 16, and 24 in Cheras, between Dec 9, 2004, and Aug 3 last year.

For the offences, he was sentenced by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in January to a 50-year jail term starting from Aug 9 last year, when his bail was revoked, together with 24 whippings.

Ismail was also sentenced by the Ampang magistrate's courts to five years' jail for abducting, molesting and robbing a 17-year-old girl, and 20 months for abducting and 24 months for molesting a 12-year-old girl in July last year.

In passing judgement yesterday, Ampang Sessions Court judge Noradidah Ahmad said Ismail had to be isolated from the society for his inhumane behaviour towards his victim.

"He pretended to ask for direction to the mosque and coaxed the victim, a minor, into following him and then raped her," she said.

Noradidah ordered the sentence to run after the completion of the sentences imposed by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Source: The Malay Mail newspaper