IPOH: A 44-year-old labourer claimed trial to two charges of raping and sexually assaulting his 16-year-old stepdaughter in Malim Nawar, near Kampar.
He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him before Sessions judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason here on Friday (Oct 9).
On the first charge, he is accused of raping the girl, then aged 15, at a bedroom of a house in Tualang Sekah, Malim Nawar, at about 8am on a day in June last year.
He was charged under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code, and faces between eight and 10 years' jail as well as at least 10 strokes of the cane if found guilty.
On the second charge, he is accused of committing physical sexual assault against the child, with whom he had a relationship of trust as her stepfather.
He allegedly committed the act at around 7am on Sept 10 and has been charged under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), read together with Section 16.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Arfahanim Azureen Arfanuddin proposed bail of RM25,000 for both charges with two local sureties.
She also applied for additional conditions, including that the accused report to the nearest police station on the first day of every month, and refrain from approaching or disturbing the victim and witnesses.
Aliff Aiman Rusli, representing the accused, applied for a lower bail, saying his client only earned between RM50 and RM100 daily.
"He has to support his wife (the victim’s mother), who works in a food outlet and earns RM60 a day, and has a child and two other stepchildren to support.
"The victim stays with her biological father in Ipoh, and my client is living in Malim Nawar.
"He comes from a poor family and thus I am requesting RM2,000 bail for both charges," he said.
The judge set bail at RM9,000 for both charges with two sureties who are not family members.
She also allowed all the additional conditions sought by the prosecution.
The case was adjourned to Dec 2 for document submission.
