KUALA KANGSAR – Six men, including two teenagers, were charged at the sessions court here today with raping and grooming a 13-year-old girl.
The accused – Muhammad Zul Haikal Rashidi, 19; Muhammad Safaran Nurhan Suhaimi, 19; Muhammad Fakrul Nakimi Hussein, 29; Muhammad Saifullah Md Senapi, 21; Razaimi Md Nor, 49; and, Noordin Mat Ramli, 59 – pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to them separately before judge Rohaida Ishak.
Safaran Nurhan, Fakhrul Nakimi and Saifullah were charged with raping the child in a room at a house in Kg Simpang Perak Air Panas, Pengkalan Hulu here between 12.30am and 5pm on February 7.
Zul Haikal was charged with two counts of raping the girl at the same place between 11.10pm and 1.25pm on February 6, and at 4.45pm the next day.
All six were charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
In addition, Noordin was charged with grooming the child, without having physical contact, at the same place at 11.10pm on February 6.
The offence, under Section 15(a)(i) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable under Section 15 of the same act, provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years, or a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.
Razaimi was slapped with two counts of grooming, with both sexual and non-physical contact, at the same place between 9pm on February 6 and 5pm the next day.
The offence, framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, provides for a 20-year prison term and whipping upon conviction.
The court allowed Zul Haikal and Razaimi bail at RM8,000 with two sureties each, while the other four suspects were each allowed bail at RM7,000 with two sureties, with the additional condition that they refrain from harassing the victim until the case is completed.
Rohaida set April 19 for mention.
The six accused were represented by lawyer Ranjit Singh, while deputy public prosecutor Afiqa Liyana Rozman prosecuted. – Bernama, March 9, 2021
