The Court of Appeal today dismissed the prosecution's appeal for higher jail sentences to be imposed on three men who were convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl three years ago.

A three-man panel chaired by Justice Vernon Ong Lam Kiat held that the prosecution's appeal to reinstate the jail sentences imposed by the Sessions Court, did not have merits.

The panel, also comprising Justices Prasad Sandosham Abraham and Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, upheld the High Court's decision.

On Aug 7 last year, the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur sentenced Shah Reza Zulkifli to nine years' jail and to be given 10 strokes of rotan while Kamarul Akmal Remli, a former despatch rider, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 15 strokes of the rotan and former security guard Mohamad Amir Mazlan was ordered to serve 19 years in jail and be given 16 strokes of the rotan.

Upon appeal by the men, the Kuala Lumpur High Court reduced their jail sentences and the whipping but upheld their convictions.

Shah Reza, a former telephone installation contractor, and Kamarul Akmal's sentences were reduced to eight years and eight strokes of the rotan while Mohamad Amir's sentence was reduced to 14 years and 10 strokes of rotan.

Shah Reza, 22, Kamarul Akmal, 25, and Mohamad Amir, 29 were found guilty by the Sessions Court of  raping the secondary school student at a hotel room in Cheras between 2pm and 4.30pm on Oct 30, 2013.

Deputy public prosecutor Adam Mohamed asked the court to restore the jail sentences imposed by the Sessions Court saying that the Hight Court erred in reducing their sentences which was manifestly inadequate.

He said the girl was in trauma as she was not only raped by the three men who took turns but also by a few other men.

Lawyer Arik Zakri Abdul Kadir representing Shah Reza submitted that the High Court finding to reduce the sentences was done according to the law and the prosecution failed to show the sentences was manifestly inadequate.

Lawyer Gurbachan Singh represented Mohamad Amir while counsel Alex Anton Netto for Kamarul Akmal.

- Bernama