An unemployed man, who molested his biological daughter, was jailed for three years and ordered to be given eight strokes of the cane on Tuesday. The 49-year-old admitted to two of three charges of repeatedly rubbing himself against the victim in Feburary 2010 when she was nine and in June the same year when she was 10.

A district court heard that the victim returned home sometime in February 2010 and went for a shower. Her father was watching television with her younger sister

When the victim came out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a towel, and went to the master bedroom to change, the accused followed her into the room and closed the door where he molested her. Both shocked and scared by what the accused was doing, she cried silently.

About five minutes later, he stopped and told her to put on her clothes. He also told her not to reveal the incident to anyone. Four months later, he repeated the same act.

The offences came to light in May 2011. The victim was at her maternal grandmother's home when she told her that she was scared to return home.

Asked why, the victim remained silent. She typed some words into her mobile phone and showed it to her grandmother who was shocked to learn that she had been sexually abused by the accused.

The father of three is currently facing divorce proceedings, said his lawyer.

He could have been jailed for up to five years, fined, caned or received any combined punishment on each charge.