KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — A 69-year-old cowherd in Kelantan who pleaded guilty to molesting his neighbour’s 10-year-old child was fined RM10,000 but sentenced to only 14 days imprisonment.

However, Sessions Court judge Nazri Ismail said Ismail Mat Adam, 69, will get an extra 12 months in jail if the latter fails to pay the fine, Malay daily Sinar Harian reported today.

According to the report, deputy public prosecutor Norazlinawati Mohd Arshad had argued for a heavier sentence to protect the interests of the under-aged victim and others who have in the same circumstances.

"The age factor and that he has many illnesses cannot be used as an excuse for the accused to act in such a disgusting manner especially on his neighbour’s child or anyone else,” she was quoted saying.

But Ismail’s lawyer Ahmad Nuri Abd Rahman had pleaded for a lighter punishment as his client was old and sickly.

Section 354 of the Penal Code, which deals with the use of criminal force to outrage the modesty of a person, provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years or a fine or whipping or any two of the punishments.

However, those aged 60 and above are spared the cane.

The molest reportedly happened at the child’s house in Kampung Belukar Muda, Bachok on March 12 last year and was witnessed by the victim’s 18-year-old brother.

According to the report, the teen saw a half-naked Ismail hold down his sibling’s hands. The report did not mention the child’s gender.

Ismail, who was known to the children as "Ayah Wil” fled when the shocked teen coughed but was arrested later that day.