Rape: Man to know fate on Mar 31

Kota Kinabalu: A man charged with raping a 27-year-old woman will know his fate on March 31 this year.

Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz fixed the date for Basri Ahailin during the submissions of the case on Thursday.

Basri is accused of raping the woman between 2am and 3.40am on Oct 9, 2019 in a house at Kg Bakau Kuala Manis, here.

The offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping on conviction.

On Feb 4, this year, Basri was called to enter his defence after the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.

The prosecution had called seven witnesses while only one defence witness testified during the defence stage.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Amirah Muhammad Ali conducted the prosecution while Basri was not represented.