By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Sept 14: A 53-year-old Chinese national was brought before the Sessions Court today, charged with raping a fellow Chinese national in an incident that took place earlier this month.
The charge was read out to the accused through a Mandarin interpreter before Judge Iris Awen Jon. He is accused under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code of raping the 46-year-old victim, an offence that carries a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping upon conviction.
According to the charge, the offence occurred in a shop unit within the Premier 101 building on Jalan Tun Jugah, sometime between 6.30pm and 10.30pm on September 1.
The accused and the victim were said to be acquainted with one another.
The victim lodged a police report on September 4, several days after the alleged incident.
During the mention of the case, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chuah Kai Sheng applied for the accused to be denied bail, noting that the offence was a bailable one but arguing there was a high risk the accused would abscond and fail to attend further proceedings if released on bail.
The court subsequently ordered the accused to be remanded until the conclusion of the case and fixed October 14 for case management mention.
The accused was represented in court by lawyer Voon Lee Shan. — DayakDaily
