Kota Kinabalu: A 46-year-old man was ordered to enter his defence on a charge of raping his sister-in- law.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus made the order for the man, after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused.
The court fixed June 15 for the man’s defence.
The man is accused of raping the nine-year and eight-month-old girl between 2pm and 5pm in April 2021 in the bushes of a banana farm in Kota Marudu.
The offence under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between 10 and 30 years, and whipping at least 10 strokes, on conviction.
The prosecution had called nine witnesses during the hearing.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Tham Pou Jin prosecuted while the man who was under remand, was not represented.
In another case, a 52-year-old man was charged with raping a 19-year-old teenager.
Ronie Apolinario pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
He allegedly raped the alleged victim between 1.15am and 3pm on Sept 3, 2022 at a rented room in Kg Air, here.
The offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries a jail term of up to 20 years, and whipping, on conviction.
The court released Ronie on a bail of RM15,000 in two local sureties with permanent job and address.
The court also imposed several conditions on Ronie such as to report to Membakut Police Station every first Monday of the month, his passport if any, to be surrendered to court, not to tamper with the prosecution witnesses especially the alleged victim and not to enter Kolombong area as the alleged victim is residing there.
The court fixed May 11 for his pre-trial case management.
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