KOTA BARU: An assistant shopkeeper was charged at the Sessions Court here today with raping a 15-year-old girl at a house in Taman Merbau Utama Selising, in Pasir Puteh, on July 3.
The accused, Muhammad Faiz Firdaus Badrolhisham, 18, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial when the charges were read before Judge Dazuki Ali.
According to the charge sheet, the man was accused of raping the teenager between 11pm and 1am.
He is charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code (Act 574), which provides for a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and caning if found guilty.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Kamarul Hasyime Rosli, with the accused represented by lawyer Muhammad Zulfaqar Al-Basysyar Saharrudin.
Kamarul Hasyime requested bail set at RM30,000 with conditions, reflecting the seriousness of the case.
In contrast, Muhammad Zulfaqar Al-Basysyar argued for a reduced bail amount, saying that his client, a shop assistant earning RM40 a day, was the sole breadwinner for his family.
He said that his client was the eldest of two siblings and the primary breadwinner for his family, as their mother was unable to work due to caring for the accused's younger sibling, who has bone cancer.
The court then set bail at RM10,000 with one surety. The accused must report to the nearest police station monthly and refrain from contacting witnesses.
The court set Oct 14 for mention.