D-day Sept 6 for teacher accused of raping pupil

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KOTA KINABALU: The Sessions Court here fixed September 8 to deliver its decision on a 53-year-old teacher charged with four counts of raping a 12-year-old student.

Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim set the date on Zalani Amit after the defence closed its case, yesterday.

The trial judge also ordered the prosecution to submit its submission on August 21 and reply from the defence to be submitted on August 28.

The teacher allegedly raped the pupil on four occasions at a chalet at Jalan Penampang on August 29, September 26, October 4 and October 18, 2014.

He was charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, which is punishable by a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.

During his arraignment in 2016, the accused was granted RM20,000 bail with two local sureties.

The court had ruled on April 21 that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused, who was then ordered to enter his defence on the said charges.

The defence had called two witnesses to testify, including the accused, who was represented by counsel Timothy Daut.