SEREMBAN: A 28-year-old man pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to raping his 18-year-old girlfriend.
Muhammad Amirul Iman Othman Bakri, a logistics company employee, claimed trial after the charge was read to him before judge Surita Budin on Monday (Feb 23).
The accused was charged with committing the offence in a hotel room in Kuala Pilah around 3pm on Aug 16 last year.
The charge under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years and caning upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi proposed bail of RM10,000 with one surety pending next mention.
However, Amirul Iman's counsel Syed Amirul Syed Edros pleaded for a lower bail as his client only earned RM1,500 a month and has not been paid since his arrest on Feb 13.
He said bail would be posted by Amirul Iman's mother, who had only managed to raise RM6,000, and added that his client had cooperated with police since his arrest.
Judge Surita then set bail at RM9,000 with one surety and ordered the accused to report to the nearest police station once a month pending disposal of the case.
She also told him to stay away from the alleged victim and witnesses.
The court fixed April 1 for next mention.
