Crime & Courts

'I want my father,' cries mentally-impaired man accused of raping underage cousin

MUAR: A mentally-impaired man accused of raping his 11-year-old cousin at a house in Tangkak two years ago was seen "frozen" and bowing his head when the judge asked if he understood the charges against him.

Session Court judge Abu Bakar Manat repeatedly asked the 27-year-old defendant if he understood the charge under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which can result in up to 20 years in prison and whipping upon conviction.

After a while, the man, who did not have a lawyer, said he understood.

When asked if he admitted to the crime, he spontaneously replied: "I want my father."

The defendant then claimed trial to the charge of raping his cousin at the victim's house in Tangkak sometime in September 2022.

Deputy public prosecutor Danial Munir did not offer bail, citing the seriousness of the offence and the fact that it was a non-bailable offence.

"The defendant and the victim have a trust relationship, and there is a possibility that he could try to interfere with the victim," he argued.

The court decided not to grant bail and set July 18 for submission of documents and the appointment of a defence lawyer.

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