KANGAR: A temple caretaker pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court today to the charge of raping an accountant at a temple in Arau on March 29.
The accused, Ong Poh Sun, 58, nodded and entered a plea of not guilty after the charge was read out in Mandarin before Judge Musyiri Peet.
According to the charge sheet, the accused is alleged to have raped a 27-year-old woman inside the Seng Ong Temple, Kampung Guar Paya, Arau, on March 29 around 3pm.
The accused was found to have committed an offence under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code, punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years and whipping.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor, Alia Suzila Chek Pi, while the accused was represented by lawyer Nurul Hanani Che Nor from the National Legal Aid Foundation.
Alia, in her submission, asked the court to set bail at RM8,000 for the accused, given the seriousness of the offence.
However, Nurul Hanani, in mitigation, requested the court to consider a reasonable bail as the accused suffered from diabetes and cholesterol problems besides taking care of his wife who also had health issues.
Nurul Hanani also stated that the accused worked and lived with his wife at the temple in question and there is no risk of him fleeing before the next mention date.
The court then set bail at RM6,000 with one surety for the accused and ordered him to report to the nearest police station until the next mention date.
The court fixed May 6 as the next mention date.
On March 29, the woman lodged a police report alleging that she was raped by a temple caretaker who is also a traditional medicine practitioner at the temple.
The victim, who works at an accounting firm in Singapore, came to the temple with her father for prayers and treatment.