A 71-year-old man has claimed trial at the Sessions Court here to charges of allegedly raping and committing an unnatural offence against his employer’s 18-year-old daughter at a shopping mall toilet last week.
The accused pleaded not guilty to both charges after they were read before Sessions Court Judge Juraidah Abbas.
According to the first charge, the man allegedly raped the 18-year-old woman inside a men’s toilet on the second floor of a shopping mall at around 4.30pm on Oct 1.
The charge was brought under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
For the second charge, the accused was alleged to have intentionally committed an unnatural offence against the same victim at the same time and location.
The charge was filed under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of between five and 20 years, as well as whipping, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Anuarul Hakim Abdul Muen handled the prosecution, while the accused was represented by lawyer K Mahendran.
The prosecution offered bail of RM10,000 for each charge, together with additional conditions including prohibiting the accused from contacting or interfering with the victim and prosecution witnesses, as well as requiring him to surrender his passport to the court until the case is concluded.
The defence, however, requested that the bail amount be reduced, informing the court that the accused was unemployed and financially supported by his child.
The court subsequently granted bail of RM14,000 for both charges, with one Malaysian surety.
The accused was also ordered to report to a nearby police station on the first day of every month until the case is concluded.
The court fixed Nov 16 for the submission of documents.
On Oct 2, media reported that a 71-year-old food shop worker had been remanded for seven days after allegedly raping his employer’s 18-year-old daughter in a shopping mall toilet.
