KUCHING: Two young men charged with statutory rape in two different cases claimed trial in the Sessions Court here yesterday.
In the first case, Mohd Zaidi, 22, pleaded not guilty to raping his 14-year-old girlfriend at his house at Taman Sukma at about 6am on Sept 13 this year.
The other accused, an 18-year-old from Sematan, Lundu was accused of raping his 13-year-old girlfriend at a house at Taman Puteri on midnight of Aug 16 this year.
They appeared before Judge Dayang Ellyn Narisa Abang Ahmad who released them on RM10,000 bail each with two sureties, pending the trial. They are also to report to the nearest police station once a fortnight until disposal of the case.
Judge Dayang Ellyn fixed Dec 12 and 13 for Zaidi to be tried and the youth to be tried on Dec 20 and 21 while case management for both cases was set for Oct 25.
The court also made an order to ban the accused persons from communicating with the victims and family members.
Inspector Austin Patrick Angkon prosecuted while both accused were unrepresented.
Meanwhile in a magistrates’ court here, a 27-year-old man was sentenced to six months’ jail after he pleaded guilty to retaining stolen property, namely four car tyre rim cover two months ago.
Faisul Nizam of Jalan Mendu committed the offence at his house at about 4.35pm on July 16 this year.
Magistrate Gerald Empaling Donald convicted him of a charge under Section 411 of the Penal Code.