Labourer claims trial to raping, sexually assaulting teenage stepdaughter

In a Malaysian courtroom, a 44-year-old labourer appeared not guilty of charges involving the rape and sexual assault of his teenage stepdaughter. The defendant entered pleas after the charges were read by judge Jean Sharmila Jesudason. The first allegation stated he had raped his stepdaughter, then 15, knowing she was prohibited from marriage by law, religion, custom, or usage.

The incident reportedly took place in a bedroom at a residence in Jalan PPRT, Tualang Sekah, Malim Nawar, at 8am in June of the previous year. The offense under Section 376(3) of the Penal Code carries up to 30 years in prison and a minimum 10 lashes. The second charge alleged the defendant touched the breasts of his stepdaughter, now 16, for sexual purposes at the same house at 7am on September 10 this year.

This offense falls under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, punishable by up to 20 years and whipping. Deputy public prosecutor Nor Afrahanim Azureen Arfanuddin represented the prosecution, while lawyer Aliff Aiman Rusli defended the accused. Bail was opposed by the prosecution, citing the severity of the charges and the relationship between the accused and victim.

They sought RM25,000 for both charges and proposed monthly reporting to a police station and a prohibition on contacting the victim or witnesses. The court granted bail of RM9,000, with two local non-family sureties, and ordered the defendant to report to a police station monthly and barred him from interacting with the victim or witnesses. The court scheduled December 2 for document submission and mention.