Youth acquitted of raping, sexually assaulting 12-year-old girl

The Kuala Terengganu sessions court has acquitted a 22-year-old man of raping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl three years ago, without calling his defence.

Judge Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Nuriman Nabil Hisham, Berita Harian reported.

The judge found that the victim gave inconsistent and suspicious evidence, while the testimonies of witnesses also failed to corroborate the charges.

Zul said the main issue was the contradiction in the date of the alleged incident in the police report, medical report and statement taken from the victim.

He ordered the RM12,000 bail to be returned to Nuriman.

Nuriman was charged with raping the victim, who was 12 at the time, in a car at an open space near the Kuala Terengganu drawbridge on June 28, 2023.

He was also charged with two counts of physical sexual assault against the victim at the same time and place.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Azhani Azman prosecuted while lawyer Che Amir Che Musa represented Nuriman.