KAJANG: A 20-year-old lorry attendant was charged at the Sessions Court here with raping a senior citizen at knifepoint in a house in Taman Asa Jaya two months ago.
However, R. Vasant Raj, 20, claimed trial to the offence after the charge was read to him by the court reporter in front of judge Mazuliana Abdul Rashid.
According to the charge sheet, the accused had raped the 71-year-old victim at knifepoint in the house in Taman Asa Jaya, here, at 4pm on April 15.
The charge against him was framed under Section 376(2)(b) of the Penal Code, which carries a prison sentence of a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 30 years, and whipping, upon conviction.
After Vasant claimed trial, deputy public prosecutor Norfarhanim Abdul Halim offered bail of RM10,000 in one surety.
However, the accused, who was not represented, pleaded for the court to impose a lower amount.
Mazuliana ordered that bail be set at RM8,000 with one surety.
"The accused is also ordered to report to the nearest police station every month and to stay away from prosecution witnesses in the case against him," she said.
The judge then set July 7 for remention of the case.
News reports had previously quoted district police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zaid Hassan as saying they had detained a man on May 25.
He had said the suspect was found to have three offences on his criminal record.
The victim, he had said, had lodged a report at the district police headquarters at 6.41pm on the day of the rape.