Five charged with raping 12-year-old in Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU (Bernama): Five men were charged at the Sessions Court here with raping a 12-year-old girl in Dungun last month.

Ahmad Syah Herfudin Omar, 23; Tuan Muhammad Shafiq Tuan Ismail, 21; Muhammad Ghardafi Abdullah, 20; and two others, who are juveniles, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them before judge Nooriah Osman on Thursday (Oct 22).

According to the charge sheet, they were charged with gang-raping the victim in an oil palm plantation in Felda Kerteh 5, Ketengah Jaya, Dungun, between 9pm and 11pm on Sept 29.

The charge under Section 375B of the Penal Code carries a jail term of between 10 and 30 years upon conviction.

The judge allowed all the accused bail of RM18,000 each with one surety and set Nov 24 for re-mention.

She also ordered the accused to report themselves to the Ketengah Jaya police station on the first and 15th day of every month until the case is concluded.

They and their family members were also prohibited from disturbing the victim or her family throughout the period.

Muhammad Ghardafi and the two juveniles were represented by lawyer Nik Mohd Radhia Nik Mohd Abd Ghani, while Ahmad Syah Herfudin was represented by Masliela Ismail. Tuan Muhammad Shafiq, however, was not represented.

Deputy public prosecutor Zulfazliah Mahmud prosecuted. - Bernama