SEREMBAN: A 73-year-old grass cutter claimed trial in the Sessions Court to a charge of raping his 18-year-old stepdaughter.
The accused pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before judge N. Kanageswari.
He was charged with committing the offence in a house in Taman Jujur at 2am on May 6.
The accused was charged under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code for rape involving minors, stepchildren or victims with disabilities. Offenders can be jailed between eight and 30 years and given a minimum 10 strokes of the rotan upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Balkis Zunaidi told the court the prosecution was not offering bail as the accused lived in the same house with the alleged victim.
She asked for another mention date for submission of documents and to allow the accused to engage a lawyer. The accused appealed for minimum bail, saying he had to provide for his wife, two children and a stepchild.
The judge did not grant bail and fixed mention for July 6.
