A hawker, described as a serial rapist by police, was sentenced to 50 years' jail and ordered to be given 24 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to 15 charges, including six for rape.

The other charges were two for attempted rape, one for committing unnatural sex and six for robbing his victims. All the offences were committed between 2007 and 2009.

Rashidi Omar, 29, from Batu 13, Kampung Beringin in Durian Tunggal, near Melaka, admitting committing the offences before Sessions Court Judge Zaharah Hussain after the charges and the facts of the cases were read to him.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin and Haslida Ismail during the proceeding which attracted much public attention, with all the seats at the public gallery taken up.

Rashidi who told the court that his last job was selling "putu piring" at a supermarket in Jalan Bachang, Melaka, committed his first offence, according to the facts of the case, of raping a seven-year-old girl at the Hailam Oil Palm Estate in Jasin on May 24, 2007.

Rashidi was also accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at the Hainan Oil Palm Estate in Cheng on April 1, 2008, and a 19-year-old girl and robbing her handphone at an oil palm holding behind the Taman Seri Sutera housing area in Alor Gajah on March 31, 2008.

He was also charged with raping a 44-year-old woman at the Tong Bee Oil Palm Estate in Jalan Kolam, Machap, Alor Gajah and robbing the victim of a laptop computer, handphone and RM200 cash on June 7, 2009.

On Oct 7, 2009, he raped a 35-year-old woman and committed unnatural sex on the woman by pushing his penis into her mouth at a boutique in Tanjung Minyak.

Under Section 376 of the Penal Code, a convicted rapist can be jailed between five and 30 years for each offence and ordered to be whipped, while an offence under Section 392 for robbery carries a jail term of up to 14 years and a fine.

In all the cases, riding his motorcycle, Rashidi had lured his victims to follow him to a secluded spot before raping or attempting to rape his victims and robbing them. He also threatened them with a small knife.

His last rape offence was committed on Nov 21, 2009 and he was arrested on Dec 1 the same year.

In mitigation, Rashidi said he regretted his actions and if allowed by the court, he would personally apologise to the victims.

"I should have set a good example for by two younger siblings, but I did not," he said.

- Bernama