LAWAS: A 23-year-old man was arrested to facilitate police investigation into a case involving an underage girl who was allegedly forced into prostitution by her mother and a karaoke centre operator.
The man, who was arrested in front of a restaurant in Jalan Sungai Trusan here at 9.30pm yesterday, is the third suspect arrested in connection with the case.
Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Dev Kumar confirmed the arrest and said investigation was ongoing to ascertain the role of the third suspect in the case.
It was reported yesterday that police had obtained a three-day remand order against the victim's mother and the centre operator over the case.
The case came to light when the victim, 14, related her predicament to a village chief, who in turn, accompanied her to lodge a police report on Oct 8.
She claimed that she was forced into having sex with an unidentified man by the first and second suspects sometime in April.
The victim claimed her mother instructed her to follow the man to a hotel here, where she was raped three times.
She also claimed that she saw the man paying RM1,000 to the karaoke centre operator.
The case was being investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for rape and Section 43(1)(a) and (d) of the Child Act 2001.