There is an increasing need for children to be aware of sexual exploitation and how to protect themselves from predators in the world. And sadly at home too. In a shocking incident of sexual assault, a 34-year-old father molested his daughter for failing her examinations.
The daughter was 11-years-old at the time of the incident.
The offender was given two years of jail and six strokes of caning as punishment on May 10, 2021, according to a report by CNA.
Father Molested Daughter For Failing In Her Exams
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On one fateful day in December 2017, the victim was watching television in the living room with her brothers when her father called her into the master bedroom. He wanted to punish her as she failed in her exams. After closing the door of the room, he asked her to sit on the floor and then close her eyes.
He began pinching and slapping her all over her body. When he pulled her shirt up to her armpit, her bra came unhooked, exposing her chest.
He continued to “punish” his daughter in a similar manner. When later asked, he admitted that he had the “desire” to touch the girl’s breasts when he saw them.
The Offender “Kept On Thinking” About His Daughter’s Chest…
In the height of perversion, the man “kept on thinking” about the incident and called her in for another “punishment” only to molest her again.
The girl went to her father’s bedroom as instructed and a similar assault was repeated after he unhooked her bra. The father molested daughter again.
Feeling uncomfortable, the victim opened her eyes and began crying as she was afraid. Her father then told her the punishment was over and she could leave.
The horrific incident of sexual abuse came to light in January 2018, when the victim told a friend in school about what happened. Her school was immediately alerted and her mother was informed that the father molested the daughter.
Prosecution vs Defence: What happened in this case
In this case, the prosecutor demanded at least two years’ jail and six strokes of the cane for the offender. The reasons cited were that the degree of sexual exploitation was high, with skin-on-skin contact that cannot be described as fleeting.
In addition to this, the offender did a lot of deliberation before molesting his daughter. For instance, asking the victim to close the door so that she gets separated from her two brothers.
The prosecutor added, “the father had perpetrated the highest form of abuse of trust.”
Defence lawyer Shehzhadee Rahman of IRB Law asked that the jail term be no more than 20 months, saying this was her client’s first brush with the law. She further added that the offender had an IQ of only 78, which falls within the borderline impaired or delayed range.
“He is deeply contrite for his offences. The incidents have caused his family to break apart, which is very painful for him. His wife has since divorced him and his entire family torn apart,” said the lawyer.
She further added that her client feels “very disgusted” at himself and will never be able to forgive himself. The man was also a very “loving father” up until the incident, according to the defence lawyer.
In response to this, the prosecution added that the Institute of Mental Health psychiatrist had found that the offender was lucid and in full control of his mental and physical power at the time of the offences.
He knew what he wanted and what he was doing, despite his low IQ. The protection lawyer further stated that his family being torn apart “is the result of the accused’s own actions.”
If you or any of your loved ones have gone through such a traumatic incident, we are with you. The feeling of “being betrayed” and that too, by someone you adore and respect is often unbearable.
However, remember to stand up against any form of abuse. Do not let fear and shame overpower you.
Looking at the rise in sexual crimes, no one is safe in today’s world. Yes, not outside and not even at home. Therefore, as parents, we need to teach our kids how to identify sexual assault and to raise their voice whenever needed.
Talking To Kids About Sexual Abuse
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Talk about body parts early
It is very important to talk to your kids about body parts very early. Mums, also use proper names for body parts or at least teach your child what the actual words are for their body parts.
Your kid may call vagina “bottom” or breasts “bubbies,” but they should also know the actual words. This will help them communicate properly and others will get the message well in case of any distress.
Teach your child body parts are private
Tell your kids that no one is supposed to touch their body parts. They are his or her private parts and no one has the right to touch them.
Also, if someone asks them to touch theirs, they should immediately say ‘No” and report it to the mum or dad.
Never take pictures of private parts
Keeping in mind the rise of online abuse, teach your kids never to take any pictures of their private parts and share them with anyone.
There is a dark world of paedophiles who love to see and trade pictures of naked children online. So, alert them beforehand.
Teach your kids how to get out of a scary situation
Sometimes kids may be too scared to share their ordeal and may easily give in to the demands of the offender.
However, tell them that they can use some tricks like “I need to go to potty now” and then they should try to alert others about the incident.
Give them the confidence to come and share anything with you
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Kids often are scared of sharing these incidents with parents because maybe the offender is a very close family friend or staying in the same house. But give your child the confidence that you are always there to listen.
Sexual assault can have an indelible imprint on young minds. Some of them may suffer from depression or have panic attacks. Tell them they should never blame themselves for what happened. Shower them with love and affection to heal them and help them come out of the gloom.
However, if you find your child struggling to cope with the mental trauma, then you should consult your doctor for medical help.
As parents, we often tend to ignore discussing sexual abuse with our kids. This ends up doing more harm to them. The more alert and informed they are, the better they will be able to come out of any given situation.
News source: CNA, Childmind Institute
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