Security guard faces sentence for sex with underage girl

A SECURITY guard yesterday pleaded guilty to having consensual sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.

However, he told the Magistrates Court that he was unaware of the girl's age.

In light of Jasrin Juri's rejection of the first charge of having sexual intercourse with an underage girl, named only as "Miss X", at her house in Mumong, Kuala Belait, in December 2008, the prosecution is expected to withdraw the charge against him during today's mitigation and sentencing.

According to testimony delivered in court, Jasrin worked at Panaga Country Club, where he met Miss X, who was a member there.

He became acquainted with Miss X after helping her and her friend at Panaga Beach sometime in 2008 when some local men approached them to ask for their numbers.

The incident brought Jasrin and Miss X closer together and they developed a romantic relationship that lasted nine months.

Sometime in early December 2008, Miss X consented to having sexual intercourse with Jasrin. She was 14 years old at the time.

Miss X consented to having sexual intercourse with Jasrin again sometime in April 2009. She was still 14 years old then, and Jasrin knew of her age by that time.

On May 2, 2009, Miss X's mother lodged a complaint at Kuala Belait Police Station reporting that Jasrin had had sexual intercourse with her daughter.

The report was filed after Miss X had confessed to her mother about her relationship.

Three days later, Jasrin was informed to come to the Kuala Belait Police Station for questioning, during which he had shown remorse and readily admitted to the offence of having sexual intercourse with Miss X in December 2008 and April 2009.

This was Jasrin's first offence, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail and 24 whips of the cane.

The Brunei Times