A 24-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Ipoh Sessions Court to raping a 14-year-old girl who later gave birth, in an alleged incident three years ago.
Mohamad Al-Fierus Syarkawie Mohd Khamis entered the plea after the charge was read to him before Judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason on Friday.
According to the charge, the restaurant worker allegedly raped the girl at a flat in Jalan Hospital, Ipoh, in the Kinta district, at about 5.15pm on September 1, 2023.
He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and whipping upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Nor Afrahanim Azureen Arfanuddin proposed bail of RM22,000 with one surety, along with additional conditions barring the accused from approaching or harassing the victim throughout the proceedings. He would also be required to report to a nearby police station twice a month.
The prosecution proposed the higher bail amount because the case had previously been mentioned in the same court on June 11, 2025, but the accused failed to appear, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.
The court was told that the accused and the victim first became acquainted online before meeting in person. Their relationship subsequently developed, and they had a child together.
The matter came to light after the teenager informed her mother that she was pregnant.
The accused, who was unrepresented by a lawyer, appealed for a reduction in bail, citing his monthly income of RM1,800 from working at a restaurant.
