KUANTAN: A 20-year-old man claimed trial at the Sessions Court here today to raping a 15-year-old girl in a hotel in Rompin in June.
Sarih Naqiuden Sarih Md Sukri entered the plea after the charge was read to him by a court interpreter before judge Sazlina Safie.
According to the charge, he was accused of raping the girl in a hotel room in Rompin between 6pm on June 23 and 5am the following day.
The charge was framed under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Fatin Nadirah Kasim prosecuted, while the accused was represented by lawyer Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly.
Fatin proposed bail of RM12,000 with one surety, with conditions that the accused refrain from contacting or disturbing the victim and report to the nearest police station.
In mitigation, Fadzli sought a lower bail amount, saying the proposed sum was too high as his client worked in the village and earned RM1,000 a month.
Sazlina set bail at RM5,000 with one surety. She also ordered the accused to report to the Rompin district police headquarters once a month until the case concludes, refrain from disturbing the victim and witnesses, and surrender his passport to the court.
The court fixed Nov 17 for mention.
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