MELAKA: Two youths have claimed trial at two separate Sessions Courts in Ayer Keroh here for allegedly gang-raping a teenage girl.
The accused, 19-year-olds Muhammad Hafiszudin Azaharudin and Abdul Afif Azizi, entered their pleas after the charges were read to them on Friday (September 19) before Judges Haderiah Siri and Rohatul Akmar Abdullah.
In the proceedings before Judge Haderiah, the first accused, who is unemployed, was charged with raping a 14-year-old girl at his family home.
Meanwhile, the other accused, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), faced a similar charge before Judge Rohatul Akmar.
The offences were allegedly committed at a house in Solok Rejang, Bukit Senggeh, Jasin, at about 12.30am on September 5.
Both accused were charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code for rape, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping.
Judge Haderiah granted bail of RM10,000 to the first accused, while Judge Rohatul Akmar set bail at RM9,000 for the other accused.
Both courts fixed October 23 for next mention and document submission, with additional conditions that they must report to the police once a month and are prohibited from disturbing the victim, who is also a prosecution witness.
Separately, at the Jasin Magistrate’s Court, a 16-year-old boy also pleaded not guilty to a similar offence before Magistrate Mazana Sinin.
The court allowed bail of RM2,000 and fixed October 14 as the next mention date.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutors Muhamad Ehsan Nasaruddin and Nor Asnini Kamarudin, while all three accused were represented by counsel Ahmad Muzhaffar Abdul Razak.
