A restaurant worker had to spend more time in prison after the High Court here today raised the jail term imposed on him from 20 years to 25 years for raping his six-year-old stepdaughter, two years ago.

Judicial Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Shariff Abu Samah also increased the number of lashes imposed by the Sessions Court on the accused, 33, from 15 to 20.

The court made the decision after dismissing the appeal by the accused to reduce the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court on Oct 30, 2015, and ordered the accused to undergo the sentence from the date he was arrested on Nov 14, 2014.

The accused was found guilty of committing the offence on Nov 7, 2014 between 5pm and 9pm, under Section 376(2)(e) of the Penal Code which provides for a maximum sentence of 30 years and caning.

In his judgment, Mohamad Shariff said the court concurred with the decision of the Sessions Court that witnesses for the victim spoke the truth which was also supported by statements from other prosecution witnesses.

The accused was represented by counsel PG Cyril, while Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurakmal Farhan Aziz appeared for the prosecution. -- Bernama