By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Feb 13: A 28-year-old factory worker was freed by the Sessions Court here today of a charge of raping an underage girl eight years ago.
Sessions Court judge Jason Juga discharged and acquitted Wilson Ane without calling for his defence after finding that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case at the end of the prosecution’s case.
Wilson was charged with raping a girl, who was 14-years-old then, at a house in Kampung Sungai Duuh in the middle of December 2012.
Subsequently, the victim gave birth to a baby girl, and the DNA evidence showed that the accused had fathered the child. However, both the accused and victim had entered into an engagement pursuant to Adat Bidayuh before the child was born.
The charge under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 20 years and liable to whipping upon conviction.
Wilson was represented by counsel Theresa Udam and Wendy Jorai, while DPP Haffiza Jemali prosecuted. — DayakDaily
