Two of the four male students involved in a rape case that took place in a classroom at a school in Melaka were charged in the Children’s Court today (16 October).
Earlier, we reported that the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said that after a thorough review, it found there was enough evidence to bring charges against the individuals involved.
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Only one accused pleaded guilty
Both 17-year-olds accused faced 3 charges for gang rape, committing unnatural intercourse, and physical sexual assault. However, only one pleaded guilty to all 3 charges, while the other pleaded not guilty and chose to stand trial.
According to the first charge, both were jointly accused under Section 375B of the Penal Code for gang-raping a 15-year-old, which carries a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years if found guilty, as reported by Harian Metro.
The second charge accuses them of committing unnatural intercourse with the victim under Section 377B of the Penal Code, punishable by up to 20 years in jail and whipping.
For the 3rd charge, they were both accused of committing physical sexual assault under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a similar sentence.
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One of the accused pleaded not guilty and requested for lower bail
The prosecution, led by State Prosecution Director Datuk Ahmad Sazali Omar, proposed bail of RM20,000 for each charge against both accused, citing the seriousness of the case.
However, the first accused, who pleaded not guilty and was represented by lawyer Chua Yong Yi, asked for a lower bail, saying he had health issues after undergoing sinus surgery and also suffers from a hernia.
The second accused, represented by a lawyer from the National Legal Aid Foundation, also requested a lower bail and said he was willing to comply with any conditions set by the court.
Magistrate Dr Teoh Shu Yee later set bail at RM4,000 for the first charge and RM1,500 each for the second and third charges, bringing the total to RM7,000.
The court set 26 November for the submission of documents for the first accused and the moral report for the second accused before sentencing.
