SIBU: A 44-year-old man here has been charged with raping an underage girl.
The accused was arrested on Oct 29 after a newborn baby was found abandoned along Jalan Tong Sang.
A 14-year-old girl, believed to be the baby boy's mother, was also arrested.
The accused was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of between 10 and 30 years as well as whipping upon conviction.
No plea was recorded from the accused before Magistrate Romario Jonoi on Friday (Nov 8) as the case is to be transferred to the Sessions Court on Nov 18.
Romario released the accused on bail of RM8,000 with two sureties.
He also ordered him to report to the investigating officer on the first of every month pending disposal of the case.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly raped the girl between March and October.
