The court on Monday also ordered Fayhan al-Ghamdi to pay his ex-wife - the girl's mother - one million Saudi riyals (USD 270,000) in blood money, Turki al-Rasheed, the mother’s lawyer, said on Tuesday.

Ghamdi's second wife, who is accused of taking part in the crime, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 150 lashes.

The five-year-old Lama was admitted to hospital in December 2011 with multiple injuries, including a crushed skull and extensive bruising and burns. She died several months later.

Ghamdi confessed to having used cables and a cane to inflict the injuries, human rights activists said earlier this year.

Saudi and foreign rights activists have strongly condemned the Saudi court’s verdicts in the case as too lenient.

"We are extremely disappointed," said Saudi rights activist Aziza al-Yousef. "He should have been jailed for life or executed to serve as an example," she urged.

Another activist, Khuloud al-Fahd, said she was also shocked by Ghamdi's punishment.

"A few years ago, two burglars stole two sheep and were sentenced to five years in prison and lashes. How can a father who killed his daughter be condemned to such a light sentence?" she questioned.

In Saudi Arabia, rape and murder are among several crimes punishable by death.

However, a father cannot be executed for murdering his children, nor can husbands be executed for murdering their wives. They might face a jail sentence between five to 12 years if convicted.

In August, Saudi Arabia adopted the kingdom's first law to criminalize domestic violence. But the law has not yet been implemented.

SHI/SHI