KUALA TERENGGANU: A 22-year-old man has been acquitted and discharged on three charges of rape and sexual assault involving a 12-year-old girl by the Sessions Court.
Judge Mohd Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli made the ruling after finding that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case, citing inconsistencies in the victim's testimony.
He said doubts arose over discrepancies in the date of the alleged incident across the police report, medical report and the victim's recorded statements, as well as witness testimony that did not corroborate the claims.
The court also considered conflicting testimony over the alleged incident inside a car and the delay in lodging the police report.
The court consequently acquitted and discharged the man on all three charges without calling for his defence.
It also ordered that his RM12,000 bail be refunded.
Under the first amended charge, the man was accused of raping the girl, who was 12 at the time, inside a car in an open area near the Drawbridge on the night of June 28, 2023.
Under the second and third amended charges, he was accused of sexually assaulting her at the same place and time.
Deputy public prosecutor Nur Azhani Azman prosecuted, while lawyer Che Amir Che Musa represented the accused.
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