Labourer claims trial to eight charges of raping, molesting two nieces
The 26-year-old faces eight charges at the Kota Bharu Sessions Court over offences allegedly committed between January 2018 and December 2022.
KOTA BHARU – A 26-year-old labourer was charged at the Sessions Court here today with eight counts of rape and physical sexual assault against two of his underage nieces, allegedly committed between January 2018 and December 2022.
The accused claimed trial after all the charges were read separately before Judge Zulkifli Abdullah and Judge Nik Habri Muhamad.
On the first and second charges, he is accused of committing physical sexual assault on a girl when she was six years and 10 months old, and later eight years old, at a house in Kuala Krai at about 12pm on Jan 10, 2018 and about 12.30pm on Aug 3, 2019.
Both charges were framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries up to 20 years' jail and whipping upon conviction.
On the third charge, the man is accused of raping the same victim when she was 10 years old — in a relationship prohibited by law, religion, custom or usage for marriage — at the same location at about 3pm on May 25, 2020.
Three further charges allege that he raped another niece, aged 10, at the same house between about 2.30pm and 4pm during the period from Aug 30, 2020 to Dec 11, 2022.
The four rape charges were brought under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of not less than eight years and up to 30 years, plus 10 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
The seventh and eighth charges relate to physical sexual assault on the second victim at about 2.30pm on Dec 11, 2022, framed under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and punishable under Section 14 of the same Act.
Deputy public prosecutors Siti Asma'a Che Omar and Syazalia Che Suhaimin appeared for the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer Nik Mohamad Naqib Mohamad Nor.
Siti Asma'a did not propose any bail, but the defence applied for the accused to be granted bail. The court allowed bail of RM12,000 for the seventh and eighth charges, and directed the defence to file a written bail application for the remaining six charges.
The court set Sept 7 for mention. The accused did not post bail. – UTUSAN
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