KUALA LUMPUR: An office cleaning service company owner was today charged with 41 counts of raping, sodomising and molesting his underage daughter multiple times since early January this year.
The accused, clad in a grey shirt, however, claimed trial to all charges before Ampang Sessions Court judge Norhazani Hamzah.
The 42-year-old, who cut a lonely figure, arrived in court under police escort at about 9am, before he was ushered into the courtroom.
He was charged with 14 counts of raping his 15-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, 18 counts of sodomising her and nine counts of molesting her.
The rape charges fall under Section 376 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment and whipping upon conviction.
The sodomy charges fall under Section 377 of the same code, and the molestation charges under Section 16(1) of the Child Act.
The offences were allegedly committed either at their house in Bukit Antarabangsa or a bush near Bukit Antarabangsa, between January and October this year.
Deputy public prosecutor S. Sangitaa did not offer bail to the accused.
"The relationship between the accused and the victim is father and daughter. The accused might abscond or disturb the victim.
"He was supposed to be a guardian to his daughter, but did otherwise by committing sexual offences instead," she said.
However, the accused, who was unrepresented, pleaded for minimum bail, stating that he needs to manage his company and protect the welfare of his employees.
"I also need to take care of my wife and children during this Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
The court did not offer bail and fixed Dec 17 for mention.
It was reported that the incident came to light when the victim was detained by police at the Southern Integrated Terminal (TBS) for trying to travel to Kedah without the necessary permit under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO).
Ampang police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohamad Farouk Eshak had said that initial investigations revealed that the victim decided to run away from home as she was traumatised by her father's sexual attacks.
"In her statement, the victim said she wanted to go back to her mother in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, as she could not stand what her father had been doing to her. The victim had attempted suicide in June by drinking floor cleaning detergent.
"The victim is the only child and still schooling in Ampang. She lives with the suspect together with her stepmother and four stepsiblings," he said, adding that her parents were divorced in 2004 after she was born.
He said further investigations revealed that the suspect won custody of his daughter in September last year and brought her to stay with him at Bukit Antarabangsa.
"Initial investigation also revealed that he has a criminal record for raping his sister-in-law," he added.