TAWAU: An 18-year-old foreigner was arrested to assist investigations into the alleged rape of an underage local girl.
Acting Tawau Police Chief Supt Wilynton Enchana Watt said the suspect was arrested in an operation at the car park of a mosque at Batu 2, Jalan Apas, on Tuesday.
He said the girl’s father lodged a report stating that his daughter, who had been reported missing after failing to return home, was later found in the Fajar area.
Following the report, officers from the District Criminal Investigation Division tracked down and arrested the suspect.
Initial investigations found the girl had been staying with the suspect in a rented room at Jalan Haji Karim, Tawau, where they allegedly had sexual intercourse, and the suspect has no valid identification or travel documents to remain in the country.
The case is being investigated under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code for alleged rape.
The suspect is also being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for allegedly entering or remaining in Malaysia without valid travel or identification documents.
If convicted under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, the offence carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, while the Immigration Act offence is punishable by a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, and up to six strokes of the cane.
