By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 29: A driver of a children’s home at Mile 12 Kuching-Serian Road today pleaded not guilty to raping an underage girl who was seeking shelter at the home.
Mohd Jefry Abdullah, 46, pleaded not guilty to raping the 15-year-old on March 29, 2018, at the multi-purpose hall’s storeroom at the home.
Sessions Court judge Marutin Pagan fixed March 4, 2019, for pre-trial case management and trial to be on April 8 and 9, 2019.
Mohd Jefry was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum 20 years’ imprisonment and whipping.
He was arrested on Jan 22 after the home’s deputy principal found out that the victim owns a handphone. She was told that the phone was given by the accused to compensate the victim as he had raped her.
The deputy principal immediately lodged a police report.
DPP Nor Azahari bin Yusof prosecuted, while the accused was represented by counsel Sylvester Wit Malang. — DayakDaily
