KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here yesterday fixed Sept 1–12 this year for the trial of a police officer for raping and sodomising a minor.
Judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh set the new dates at the mention of Deputy Superintendent Police Rohaizat Abd Ani’s case yesterday.
The accused was not present in court here yesterday and was represented by counsel Timothy Daut, who was standing in for counsels Ram Singh and Zahir Shah.
On Aug 2, 2013, Rohaizat claimed trial under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code to three counts of raping the 13-year-old girl in different rooms of a hotel here on Feb 1, 2012; Feb 2, 2012; and sometime in May 2012 between 7pm and 8.30pm.
The accused also denied the charge under Section 377B of the same Act of sodomizing the girl on Feb 1, 2012 at about 3.30am inside a room of the same hotel here.
Each of the four charges carries a maximum custodial sentence of 20 years and also whipping upon conviction.
The court made a remark that should the accused be absent again, a warrant of arrest would be issued against him as there was also no letter to excuse the absence of the accused yesterday.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, standing in for DPP Afzan Abd Kahar, informed that the prosecution would be ready with 22 witnesses.
Meanwhile, Azhaniz fixed July 8 – 9 for the trial of Andin Salim, 23, who had maintained a plea of not guilty to a charge for raping an underage girl, when his case came up for mention.
He allegedly raped the 15-year-old victim inside the storeroom of a premises, in Menggatal on Nov 30, 2013, at around 2.30am.
The charge under Section 376 (2) (d) of the Penal Code provides for maximum 20 years’ jail and whipping, upon conviction.
DPP Nartiah F Mirchelle Sambatan acted for the prosecution while the accused was represented by counsel Martin Tommy.