SEREMBAN: A shop assistant who pleaded guilty to a charge of raping a 14-year-old girl has been ordered to undergo rehabilitation at the Henry Gurney School until he turns 21.
Sessions Court judge Surita Budin made the ruling after the court was told that the family of the accused, who was four months short of turning 19 when the crime was committed, was not present in court to post bond.
The accused had pleaded guilty when he was first charged on Aug 27.
He admitted committing the offence in a hotel room here around 9.30am on Aug 19 and charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
Earlier, a Social Welfare Department officer told the court that the accused is the oldest of seven siblings and had completed his skills certificate in repairing and servicing air conditioners.
She said he was often abused by his father, forcing him to leave the family home in Johor and to move in with his cousins here.
The officer also said the teenager earned around RM1,500 a month working at the shop during the day and sold burgers in the evenings.
The accused, she said, had also claimed that he came to know the victim, who was from Kedah, through social media.
In mitigation, the accused who was unrepresented pleaded that he not be sent to jail. He also asked for a lighter sentence, such as community service, as this was his first offence.
Deputy public prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni said the accused had committed a serious offence against a child.
Surita then asked if any relatives of the accused were present and was told the parents were unable to attend due to financial problems.
She made the ruling after a male relative told the court the family did not have the means to post a bond.
