SARIKEI: A former teacher arrested by the police two weeks ago to facilitate investigation into the alleged rape of an underage girl who subsequently became pregnant was yesterday released on bail.
The one-month bail period took effect from yesterday upon expiry of the 14-day remand granted by the magistrates’ court earlier on.
Prosecuting officer Inspector Anbarasu Gobind said the police were still waiting for the outcome of a chemist’s report before deciding on the next course of action, adding, the victim had given birth to a boy on July 19 in Sibu Hospital.
If there is sufficient evidence, the suspect would most likely be charged with statutory rape under section 376 of the Penal Code.
The 34-year-old suspect was arrested on July 19 following a report lodged by the victim at the police station here.
In her report, the victim claimed that the first time the suspect had sex with her was in 2012, but she could not remember the exact date.
Another time they had sex was one night in October last year when the suspect brought her to his friend’s house at Jalan Lajung off Nyelong Bypass, where she claimed they had sex in one of the rooms.
The last time they had sex was during the last Chinese New Year celebration, said the girl, adding, that in total, she remembered having sex with him on six occasions between 2012 and early this year.
The victim also claimed to have informed the suspect when she realised she was pregnant in January this year.
As the suspect had only asked her to abort her pregnancy instead of taking responsibility, she decided to lodge a police report, the victim said.