42-year-old man charged with raping, abusing 11-year-old girl at orphanage

JOHOR BARU: A 42-year-old welfare centre assistant pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to four charges of raping and sexually abusing an 11-year-old child at an orphanage in May this year.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges after it was read to him in front of Sessions Judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob.

According to the charge sheet, the accused had sexually abused the victim by touching her chest, private part, and kissing her before raping the victim.

The accused was charged three times under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 that carries imprisonment for up to 20 years and is also liable to whipping.

The fourth charge was under Section 376(2)(e) of the Penal Code for committing rape against the victim, which carries a jail term of up to 30 years and whipping, upon conviction.

The crime was allegedly committed at an orphanage welfare centre in Johor Baru in May this year.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Chan Choon Yew, while the accused was not represented.

Chan had requested the court not to offer bail to the accused as he had conducted a criminal breach of trust and the risk of harassing and causing trauma to the victim who is still at the welfare centre.

The accused, in his defence, however, pleaded to be offered bail as he has two children under his care.

The court then decided not to allow bail for the accused and set September 22 for the next mention of the case.

It was earlier reported that the police had arrested a 42-year-old man for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl at an orphanage near the city area here.

It is learnt that the suspect, who works as a helper at the orphanage, was arrested by police at a house in Taman Sri Tebrau here at around 9pm on Sunday (July 25).

Johor Baru South OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Padzli Mohd Zain, who confirmed the case, said that police were notified about the incident on Saturday (July 24) at 3.17pm.