KOTA KINABALU: A 19-year-old contractor was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with statutory rape of his primary school girlfriend.
Mohamad Sukhry Samad, who was brought before Sessions Court judge Azreena Aziz, raping the 12-year-old girl. The court set September 30 for case management.
The indictment under Section 376 of the Penal Code carries up to 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Dominic Chew Ban Huat told the court that the accused allegedly committed the offence between 1am and 6am on August 7 at a house in a Bongawan village.
Chew objected to granting of bail as the accused was charged with a non-bailable and serious offence.
He said the accused may tamper with the witness upon his release considering that he had trespassed into the house when committing the offence.
Mohamad Sukhry pleaded with the court to grant him bail so that he could negotiate with the victim’s family.
Chew said the accused could see the victim or her family members in court as he did not want additional pressure to be exerted on them.
In the same court, four men were sentenced to five months’ imprisonment for entering the state illegally.
Azreena also ordered three of the accused to be given a stroke of the cane.
The offence, framed under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, carries a fine not exceeding RM10,000, or a jail term of up to five years or both and whipping, upon conviction.
Abdul Hassan Hajan, Zulasli Maksud, Hj Mohammad Amin and Mohd Ridzuan Latola, aged between 21 and 63, were ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department after serving their sentence.