KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here issued a warrant for the arrest of a policewoman for failing to turn up in court to testify in a rape case.
Judge Duncan Sikodol yesterday issued the arrest warrant against detective sergeant Madiha bt Sarudi, who is attached to the Kepayan police headquarters, at the request of deputy public prosecutor Luke Ressa Balang.
The prosecution’s fourth witness was supposed to testify in the on-going trial of former soldier Azizuddin Awang Hamat, 27, who is accused of raping a girl at a storeroom of a soccer field in Lok Kawi Camp here between early June and early July, 2009 about midnight.
The girl was 15 years old when the alleged rape occurred.
Azizuddin is liable to a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping if found guilty of the alleged offence under Section 376 of the Penal Code.
Duncan deferred to April 1, for the continuation of the trial.
The accused claimed trial to the charge on Nov 26, last year and is currently released on RM3,000 bail, to be deposited with two local sureties pending the disposal of the case.
The prosecution had called three witnesses to testify against Azizuddin since the trial commenced on Feb 28, this year.
Counsel Mohd Nor acted for the accused who was not present in yesterday’s proceedings as he was sick.