KUANTAN: A 25-year-old lorry attendant and two unrelated underage girls were neighbours for many years in Taman Seri Mahkota Aman, Batu 11 here.
A slow learner who only studied up to Form 3, Mohd Azhar Sharidan then worked by helping his father - a lorry driver for a company here - while spending much of his free time around the neighbourhood.
Today however, he found himself before the Sessions Court where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape involving the two girls, aged four and eight.
According to the first charge, he allegedly raped the younger girl at a water tank in their neighbourhood between 5pm and 7pm in May.
The second count accused him of raping the eight-year-old girl at an oil palm plantation in the same housing area between 5pm and 7pm in August.
The girls' fathers lodged separate police reports on Nov 6, leading to his arrest two days later.
Having been remanded during the course of police investigation, Azhar was then brought to court today to answer the two rape charges.
He faces a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping if found guilty of any of the charges under Section 376 (2) of the Penal Code.
Deputy public prosecutor Shahrul Ekhsan Hassim urged the court to deny bail on grounds that the accused may harass the two victims and their families.
"These are serious offences involving an accused who is a neighbour with the girls (two victims) and they live in the same housing area.
"There is a risk of the accused harassing the victims and their families due to their close proximity," he said.
Shahrul also reminded the court that there is a high likelihood of the accused absconding because he is facing two similar and serious charges involving two young children.
He also argued that Azhar should not be granted bail as he posed a danger to other children in the community.
Lawyer Mohamad Hamizey Mat Taib, who represented the accused, pleaded for lower bail as the allegations of rape have not been proven in court.
"No offences have been proven to have been committed by the accused," said Hamizey, adding that the court could impose additional conditions for granting bail.
The accused's father, who declined to give his name, pleaded for bail to be granted and revealed his son's mental condition to the court.
Judge Datuk Unaizah Mohd did not allow Azhar to be released on bail and fixed Jan 5 next year for mention.
However, she directed Shahrul to ensure that the accused has medical access should he require one while under custody.