MUAR: A jobless youth has pleaded not guilty in the magistrate's court to raping his former schoolmate at a house in Tangkak last month.
The accused, 19, made the plea before Judge Sayani Mohd Nor after the charge was read out to him by an interpreter.
The charge was framed under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code which carries a maximum 20-year jail term and caning upon conviction.
He is accused of raping the 15-year-old victim, his junior in secondary school on the afternoon of Sept 21 at his house in Tangkak.
The rape came to light after the girl's mother discovered what happened to her after checking her phone.
The victim's family brought her to the hospital for a check-up before lodging a police report.
Prosecution was handled by Deputy Public Prosecutor Danial Munir while the accused was unrepresented.
The court set bail at RM12,000 with one surety. The court also barred the accused from approaching the victim or witnesses.
He is also required to report to the nearest police station periodically.
The court set Nov 11 for case remention.