SEREMBAN: Two teenagers have claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to separate charges of raping underage victims.
In the first case on Tuesday (Sept 9), a 19-year-old accused pleaded not guilty before judge Surita Budin to a charge of raping his alleged victim, aged 15 years and 11 months at the time.
He was charged with committing the offence in a car between 8pm and 9pm at a park in a residential area in Gemas in July.
In a separate case, an 18-year-old suspect also claimed trial to a charge of raping his victim, who was four months short of her 17th birthday.
He allegedly committed the offence at a house here between 3.30am and 4pm on Aug 30.
Both were charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and caning, or both, for adult offenders.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni proposed bail of RM20,000 with one surety each.
She also asked that the accused be ordered to stay away from the alleged victims, to surrender their passports to the court, and to report to the nearest police station monthly pending disposal of their cases.
Norazihah said that in the first case, the alleged victim was the suspect’s girlfriend; while in the second case, an acquaintance of the accused.
Judge Surita then set bail at RM9,000 with one surety each for both accused and allowed the other applications by the prosecution.
The court fixed Oct 14 for next mention of both cases.
