SUNGAI PETANI: A police inspector was charged in a Sessions Court here with the rape of a 16-year-old girl.
Mohd Maliki Azmi, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read out before Judge Roslan Hamid yesterday.
Mohd Maliki, the investigating officer (IO) of a rape case involving the underaged victim, had allegedly committed statutory rape with consent unlawfully obtained by using his position of authority over her.
It is believed that the alleged crime took place in the IO’s room at the Yan district police headquarters in Kedah, at about 6.30pm on Dec 28, 2022.
He was charged under Section 376(2)(f) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping if convicted.
Earlier, the accused also claimed trial to three charges relating to sexual assault against the teenage girl at the same place, time and date.
The charges, reported Bernama, were framed under Section 14(a), Section 14(c) and Section 15(a)(ii) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act read together with Section 16(1) of the same act, which carries 20 years of imprisonment and whipping, in addition to up to five years imprisonment with not fewer than two lashes of the whip under Section 16(1), if convicted.
Mohd Maliki pleaded for a lower bail amount from the prosecution’s initial sought sum of RM20,000 per charge, as he told the court that he had lost his income due to this case, adding that he had to support his wife and parents apart from having huge debts.
The court ultimately granted the accused a RM10,000 bail with one surety for the rape charge and RM15,000 with one surety for all three charges of sexual assault.
He was also ordered to hand over his passport to the court and is prohibited from disturbing the victim.
The court fixed Feb 6 for a lawyer appointment and submission of documents.
