Religious officer faces 12 charges of rape, sexual abuse against a child

MELAKA: A 40-year-old religious officer claimed trial to 12 counts of sexual abuse offences against a child who is his relative at the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court.

The accused, who is an imam, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read separately before judges Sabri Ismail and Nariman Badruddin on Thursday (Sept 8).

For the first three charges, the father of four is accused of allegedly raping the nine-year-old girl in a house at Taman Seri Kerayong in Jasin between 9am in September 2017 and the middle of the same month.

The charges are framed under Section 376, Section 377C and Section 376(2) of the Penal Code as well as Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offence Against Children 2017 read together under Section 16(1) and Section 17(1) of the same act.

The accused is facing a prison term of up to 30 years and whipping upon conviction.

For the fourth to the seventh charges, the man is accused of allegedly raping and committing carnal intercourse on the same victim between 4.30pm on March 2019 and 9.30am in early September 2019 at the same address.

The offences are punishable under Section 377C of the Penal Code which carries a punishment of maximum 20 years imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.

For the eighth to the 12th charges, the man is accused of allegedly raping and physically abusing the same victim at a house in Simpang Badak, Jasin between 2.30am on July 12, 2021 to June 13 this year.

The charges are framed under Section 14 (a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping, if convicted.

The accused was represented by counsel Andrew Lourdes.

The court granted bail totalling RM79,000 for all the charges and fixed Oct 6 as the next mention date.