KOTA KINABALU: Two men claimed trial at the Sessions Court here yesterday to separate rape charges.
Both accused persons, who were brought before judge Azreena Aziz, were separately charged under Section 376 (1) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and whipping, upon conviction.
In the first case, Sabdi Abdul, 19, was alleged to have raped a 15-year-old girl in a house at Lok Kawi Putatan at 10am on November 11, 2014.
Earlier, counsel Michelle Usman from the National Legal Aid Foundation, who represented Sabdi, applied for bail on the grounds that Sabdi, whose father passed away presently, is the oldest child in his family and currently waiting for an offer to continue his studies.
However, deputy public prosecutor Husna Abdul Halim objected to bail as the 15-year-old victim had given birth to a child and believed that there was sufficient evidence to implicate him in the case.