IPOH: A group of friends, including a university student, have claimed trial to separate charges for raping and outraging the modesty of two minors in a house at Kampung Baru Mambang Diawan in Kampar.
Factory worker Norarisman Salleh, 27, security guard Muhamad Ikqwanniezam Abdullah, 24, and unemployed Muhammad Fariq Fadzilan, 30, pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here.
All three were accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in a room of a rented house in Kampung Baru Mambang Diawan one day in early November last year between 3.30pm and 10.30pm.
Norarisman was also charged under Section 14(c) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for outraging the modesty of a 15-year-old girl at the same location and time.
Business administration undergraduate Muhammad Alif Muhammad Zamhari, 23, was charged with outraging the modesty of the 14-year-old victim at the same location and time.
If convicted, all the accused could be jailed up to 20 years and whipped.
When requesting lower bail, lawyer V. Santhiran, who represented Norarisman, said it was his client’s first offence.
Santhiran said his client, from Temoh, had cooperated with the police during the investigation and was taking care of his parents.
Sessions judge Norita Mohd Ardani set bail at RM5,000 with one surety for each charge and May 8 for mention.
Muhammad Alif’s lawyer, Muhamad Syahrul Nizam Mohd Rabi, also said his client had cooperated with the police throughout the police investigation.
“He also did not disturb the victim and wants to clear his name in court for his future.
Bail was set at RM5,000 with one surety and May 10 for mention.
Muhamad Ikqwanniezam and Muhammad Fariq, represented by lawyers Manal Hayati Mohd Ariff and Syamil Haidhar Abdul Jalik Alwi, respectively, were each allowed bail at RM5,000 with one surety.
Their case mention has been set for May 8.
All the accused were also ordered by Judge Norita to not disturb the victims until their cases are completed.
Deputy public prosecutor Qurratu’aini Khalifah prosecuted.
In a separate case before the same judge, a jobless man pleaded guilty to raping and molesting his 19-year-old daughter at a house in Kampung Seri Rahmat in Batu Gajah.
The 38-year-old admitted to raping his daughter at the said house one night in February between 10pm and midnight and using criminal force to outrage the modesty of the girl on March 20 at about 8.30am.
Under the law, he faces up to 30 years in jail and a whipping for committing incest.
For molesting, which comes under Section 354 of the Penal Code, he faces up to 10 years in jail, a fine, whipping, or any of the two punishments.
Judge Norita set April 17 for sentencing.
