KUALA LUMPUR: A national aquatics coach pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to raping a 20-year-old national diving athlete two weeks ago, reports the New Straits Times.
The accused, Huang Qiang, 35, appeared calm when the charge was read to him before Judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob by a court translator.
The father of two was charged with raping the victim at a dry gym in Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, Sri Petaling at about 5.30pm on Sept 26.
The offence falls under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment and canning upon conviction.
Bail was set at RM50,000 with two sureties and the accused was ordered to report himself to a nearby police station twice a month.
The court also fixed Nov 6 for mention.
Huang, clad in a red shirt and yellow shorts, arrived about 9am and covered his face as he was ushered into the courtroom by several policemen.
A man and a woman believed to be Huang’s wife and father-in-law also escorted him into the courtroom.
It is learnt that the victim was a backup diver for the Malaysian team in the recent Sea Games.
The accused, originally from China, had been working in the country for over five years. He was said to be married to a Malaysian and has permanent resident status since 2011.
This is the first major allegation of sexual abuse among the Malaysian sporting fraternity in more than two decades.
