JEMPOL: Three juveniles claimed trial at the Bahau Magistrate's Court here to raping a 12-year-old girl.
The accused, aged 14, 16 and 17, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to them before Magistrate Norshazwani Ishak.
The 14- and 17-year-old youths were charged with raping the victim around 11.30pm on Jan 28 while the 16-year-old allegedly committed the crime between 3am and 1pm the following day.
They alleged offences were committed in a hotel in Bahau.
The two youths who jointly committed the crime were charged under Section 375B of the Penal Code while the third was charged under Section 376 (2)(d) of the same legislation.
The court then allowed each of the accused to be released on a RM6,000 bail and fixed March 22 for re-mention.
Those found guilty of an offence under Section 375B or Section 376(2)(d) of the Penal Code can be imprisoned for a sentence between 10 and 30 years and shall also be liable to whipping upon conviction.
The youths who were jointly charged were each represented by Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat and Datuk PM Nagarajan while the third suspect was unrepresented. Inspector Baharudin Bah Bam prosecuted.
