71-Year-Old Man Charged with Raping Employer’s Daughter in Shopping Mall Toilet

GEORGE TOWN: A 71-year-old man pleaded not guilty to two charges of raping and committing an unnatural sexual act against his employer’s daughter at a shopping mall here last Thursday.

Chuah Cheng Seng entered the plea after the charges were read to him in Hokkien before Judge Juraidah Abbas at Sessions Court 1 here on Tuesday.

“I understand both charges,” he said.

According to the first charge, Chuah is accused of raping an 18-year-old woman in a men’s toilet on the second floor of Gurney Plaza here.

He allegedly committed the offence at 4.30pm on Oct 1.

He was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

For the second charge, Chuah is accused of intentionally committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature involving the same victim.

The alleged offence was committed at the same place, time and date.

He was charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and whipping upon conviction.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Anuarul Hakim Abdul Muen proposed bail of RM10,000 with one Malaysian surety for each charge.

He also requested additional conditions requiring the accused to report to the nearest police station on the first day of every month, surrender his passport to the court until the case is concluded, and refrain from approaching or interfering with the victim or witnesses.

Lawyer K Mahendran then appealed for lower bail, saying his client was currently unemployed and had diabetes.

“His living expenses are currently being supported by his son, who works as a salesman and earns RM2,000 a month. His son is present today to post bail for the accused,” he said.

Earlier, Mahendran had to calm the accused after he appeared frightened.

Juraidah subsequently set bail at RM14,000 with one Malaysian surety for both charges.

She also granted all the additional conditions requested by the prosecution.

The case was fixed for Nov 16 for the submission of documents.

The media previously reported that while at the shopping mall, the suspect allegedly pulled the victim into a men’s toilet on the second floor before raping and sexually assaulting her by force.

The alleged assault reportedly continued until a visitor at the shopping mall knocked on the toilet door.

After the incident, the suspect allegedly gave the victim cash before taking her back to her father’s shop nearby.

Traumatised by the incident, the teenager told her family what had happened before they lodged a police report, leading to the suspect’s arrest.

Sinar Harian