Labourer claims trial to raping, sexually assaulting teenage stepdaughter

IPOH: A 44-year-old labourer pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today to raping and sexually assaulting his teenage stepdaughter.

The accused entered the pleas after both charges were read before judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason.

The first charge accused him of raping his stepdaughter, then 15, knowing that she was a person whom he was prohibited by law, religion, custom or usage from marrying.

The offence was stated to have occurred in a bedroom at a house in Jalan PPRT, Tualang Sekah, Malim Nawar, at 8am in June last year.

The charge was framed under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code, which provides for imprisonment of between eight and 30 years and at least 10 strokes of the cane upon conviction.

The second charge accused him of touching the breasts of the same victim, now 16, for sexual purposes at the same house at 7am on Sept 10 this year.

The charge was framed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, read together with Section 16 of the same Act. Upon conviction, the offence carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and may also be punished with whipping.

Deputy public prosecutor Nor Afrahanim Azureen Arfanuddin prosecuted, while lawyer Aliff Aiman Rusli represented the accused.

The prosecution opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the relationship between the accused and the victim.

If bail were granted, the prosecution proposed RM25,000 for both charges, with two local non-family sureties.

It also sought an order requiring the accused to report to a police station at the beginning of each month and prohibiting him from contacting or disturbing the victim and witnesses.

The court was told that the victim was staying with her biological father in Ipoh, according to the Social Welfare Department.

In mitigation, Aliff Aiman said his client earned between RM50 and RM100 a day and supported his wife, who earned RM60 a day working at an eatery, as well as their three children, aged 10, 16 and 19.

The defence requested bail of RM2,000 for both charges, citing the accused's financial constraints and family commitments.

The court granted bail of RM9,000 for both charges, with two local non-family sureties.

The accused was also ordered to report to a police station once a month and barred from contacting or approaching the victim or witnesses.