'Bentong Rambo' sentenced to death for murder of forestry department staff

A serial rapist was sentenced to death by the High Court here on Thursday for the murder of a Bentong Forestry Department staff, three years ago.

Judge Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya said the defence had failed raise reasonable doubts on the prosecution’s case against Rabidin Satir, 45, of Tambunan, Sabah.

She also sentenced him to 12 years’ jail and four strokes for raping the victim’s wife and 12 years’ jail and two strokes for an offence under Section 4A of the Firearms Act.

Rabidin, who is better known as ‘Bentong Rambo’, was also sentenced to eight years’ jail and two strokes of the cane for robbing and hurting the victim’s wife under Section 394 of the Penal Code.

Mariana ordered all the sentences to run concurrently after Rabidin completed serving a 133 years’ jail sentence for rape, unnatural sex and attempted murder of a policeman.

She said the defence’s claim that Rabidin was victimised, did not know the victim, 31, and never entered the Forestry Department quarters were unacceptable.

“There is irrefutable evidence in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) on gloves found in the victims’ house and semen on the bed sheet and blouse of the victim’s wife.” Rabidin was charged with committing the murder between 3.50 am to 4.30am at JH2 Perumahan Jabatan Perhutanan, Jalan Tras, Bentong on Nov 3, 2012.

He was also charged with armed robbery, causing hurt and two counts of raping the victim’s wife at the same place and on the same day.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Hajar Mustafa prosecuted while counsel G. Sivakumar represented Rabidin.