IPOH: A policeman from the Parit police station here today claimed trial to raping a Form Four student here last month.
Sergeant Sharil Amir Shaari, 42, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read to him before Sessions judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.
He was accused of raping the 16-year-old in a car at a car park area in front of a supermarket at Persiaran Seri Iskandar Prima 1, Seri Iskandar Prima, Seri Iskandar at 4pm, on Jan 12.
The charge, under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum 20-years jail and whipping.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Qurratu'aini Khalufah prosecuted while the accused was represented by Ahmad Shamil Azad Abdul Hamid.
Qurratu'aini urged the court not to offer bail to the accused after arguing that this could expose the victim and other witnesses in the case to harassment.
However, Ahmad Shamil said his client had been cooperative throughout the investigation and pleaded for the court to set RM5,000 bail.
He said the court should take into account that the accused who had been serving as a policeman for the past 17 years.
Ahmad Shamil said the court should take into consideration that the accused needed to support a wife and five children.
"My client only has a nett income of RM2,000 per month but he has been receiving only half of the amount due to a stop work order against him," he said.
The judge later allowed RM5,000 bail with one surety and set March 25 for mention.
It was reported the policeman was arrested on Jan 29 for allegedly raping a 16-year-old student between July and October last year.
Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said the man was arrested at the Perak Tengah district police headquarters on Jan 28.
The case came to light after the victim told her mother about what happened.