A 31-year-old manual laborer pleaded not guilty at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court today to a charge of raping his underage sister-in-law last year. The plea was recorded before Judge Madihah Zainol.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly raped his sister-in-law, who was 15 years and five months old at the time, at a house in Jalan Benteng, Kampung Parit Lapis Sayang, Benut, Pontian, around 9 a.m. in early July last year.
The charge was brought under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Farah Wahida Shahudin proposed bail of RM20,000, noting that the victim no longer lives with the accused, who is also her brother-in-law.
However, defense counsel Mohamad Isa Mohamad Basir requested a lower bail amount, arguing that the accused is only a manual laborer with irregular daily wages, is married, and has two young children—one of whom suffers from seizures. He also pointed out that the victim now resides 40 kilometers away from the accused.
The court then set bail at RM10,000 with one local surety and imposed three additional conditions: the accused is prohibited from disturbing the victim and prosecution witnesses until the case concludes.
The case has been fixed for mention and document submission on October 24.
