KUALA LUMPUR - A part-time hotel worker entered a guilty plea today in the Sessions Court in Penang after being charged with raping and committing unnatural sexual acts against an Australian woman.
S. Prasanth, 25, asked Judge Juraidah Abbas for additional time to secure legal representation.
He faces charges of raping the Australian woman in a Perodua Axia car and threatening her with a pair of metal scissors at a cemetery in the Mount Erskine Estate between 5:20 AM and 6:00 AM on June 28.
The charge, under Section 376 (2) (b) of the Penal Code, carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison and whipping if convicted.
At the same time, he is charged with committing unnatural sexual acts against the woman at the same time and place, under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which could result in a prison sentence of five to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
The prosecution, led by Penang Prosecution Director Mohd Nordin Ismail and Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Jun Keong, did not offer bail due to the severity of the crime and the delicate nature of Malaysia's relations with Australia, given that the victim is an Australian citizen.
“We do not want this incident to negatively impact the perception of foreign tourists visiting Malaysia. We cannot accept such offenses,” said Mohd Nordin.
The court denied bail and scheduled a hearing for July 31 to discuss document submissions and the appointment of legal counsel. - July 4, 2025
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