Singapore - A father was sentenced on Tuesday to 32 years in jail and the maximum 24 strokes of the cane for raping his five daughters in a case described as 'sickening' by the Singapore High Court justice.
'It was a sad and shameful abuse of trust and respect that allowed him to do what he did,' said Justice Tay Yong Kwang.
The 45-year-old Muslim man, who enlisted the help of his multiple wives to rape the girls, pleaded guilty last Thursday.
The daughters were between 12 and 15 years old when the rapes took place between December 2003 and June 2005.
Tay said the case was unique in the city-state in that so many daughters became their father's prey.
All identities were withheld to protect the victims.
Tay assured the eldest daughter she did 'the right thing' in finally reporting her father to police.
The father subverted parts of the Koran to justify incest, Deputy Public Prosecutor Eugene Lee told the court.
Altogether, the husband has 10 wives and 66 offspring from 'contractual marriages,' permitted in some Islamic countries but invalid in Singapore. At least four wives connived in the incest.
While conducting religious lessons, the man convinced his wives that he had ownership over his children, which included having sex with them.
Forty-three charges were levelled against the man. The defendant pleaded guilty to nine of the charges. Tay took the remaining counts into consideration in sentencing.
Two of the girls became pregnant and had abortions, one of which was on the Indonesian island of Batam.
The girls, now in the care of the Ministry of Community Development, could not recollect the exact number of instances of abuse.
The eldest of the abused daughters reported her father to the police on June 24, 2005. He was arrested the next day.
The man's youngest child is currently nine months old. Several of his current wives met him while they were polytechnic students.
© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur
I was roaming about in Google News when I found this shocking article. This is not directed at any religious group.
I tell you that Jesus cares about these people and we should too. We are first humans, then Christians. Let's not judge other people as we have our own failings. Let's pray for them.
Let's not start blaming anyone because there's no point in that. It's the spirit we're dealing with, not the person. I am sure the person chose to do whatever the devil inspired him to. However, let us be merciful to sinners blind to the truth by praying for them.
I feel really sad for the five victims. Do not let the culprit of these atrocities distract us from praying for the victims. We know what's right and wrong and we have a higher standard of righteousness. We must be righteous to the unrighteous.
THE FIVE GIRLS
Be healed emotionally and to be saved by Christ.
It does not seem that impossible now that we just had a female Muslim convert aged 21 years old last Saturday right? By the way, the trauma experienced by them will probably stay with them forever, without Christ.
Pray that negative thoughts and replays of the abuse will be cast out.
Their self-esteem and image must be so broken. This is something only Christ can restore. Pray against condemning and suicidal thoughts too. Pray for a right state of mind; they might be feeling worthless. Pray that they will not hate their parents but forgive them. Pray against fear or bitterness taking hold of them. Pray that they will not hate or be afraid of men.
Restitution into society.
Can you imagine how their educational and career paths must have been affected? Pray that they will be given the strength to pursue studies and careers again. I bet they do not want to or cannot go back to their own homes. Let's pray for them to find good foster housing or institutional care. Let's also pray that they will lead happy lives, one day getting married. They need spouses who will take care and not abuse their trust or be mindful of the past. Also, pray for their health that the abortions will not weaken their bodies or even spoil their chances of having their own children one day.
THE DAD
Know what the truth is.
Let's pray that he might encounter Christ in jail and be transformed. The Word must go in. Let's pray that God may use whichever minster in prison to preach the Word to him.
To be set free
Let's pray also for the daughters' forgiveness because this will set him free. Pray that one day the family might be reunited, in the way Christ intended family to mean. Let's pray against that demonic spirits of lust behind these acts. Let's pray that they will leave him and not come back.
THE MOTHERS
Know what the truth is
These ten wives must be feeling lost and confused now. Demonic doctrine must be purged out. Pray that they will be led by the Spirit into a church or that they will hear the gospel and be saved.
Welfare
Financial support is needed. Pray that they will take good care of the children, if the custody falls into their hands and not to the State.
THE REMAINING 61 CHILDREN
No more abuse
The children, the youngest being nine months of age, must be protected and taken care of well. Pray against further incidents of abuse by whoever becomes the stepfather.
Welfare
Let's pray that they might find the love of our Heavenly Father, which does not disappoint. Let's pray for their future education, career, marital, financial and other affairs.
SPIRITS OF MALICE & LUST
Families
Last of all, let's pray against the spirits of lust and malice which are trying to break families in this way. Let's pray for the children who are abused daily, mentally and/or physically. Let's pray for them to be brave enough to call the police and be set free. Let's pray for Christ's notion of family to be in everyone's minds through public education.
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