KOTA BARU: Three men were charged in the Sessions Court here today with raping a 12-year-old in a house in Bachok in May.
The father-son duo, together with the son's friend, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial when the charges were read before judge Zulkifli Abllah.
The accused were charged separately.
The first accused is a 46-year-old who was charged with raping his stepchild.
He was charged under Section 376 of the Penal Code and Section 16 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), which carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years and caning, if convicted.
The second and third accused were charged under Section 376(2) of the Penal Code (Act 574), which provides for a prison sentence of between 10 and 30 years, as well as whipping, if convicted.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Faiz Fitri Mohamad prosecuted.
The first and second accused were represented by counsel Nur Sarah Syamimi Safie, while the third accused was represented by counsel Zuhaidie Akmal Hasan Basri.
Earlier, Faiz Fitri asked for bail not to be offered against the three accused since the case was serious and the victim was a minor.
Sarah Syamimi and Zuhaidie asked for bail to be offered since it was their client's first criminal case.
The court did not grant bail to the first and second accused, while the third accused was allowed bail of RM15,000 with one surety.
The court then set Aug 11 for case remention.