KOTA BARU: A hawker was charged at the Sessions Court here today for allegedly raping an underage girl on March 27.
Aidie Edham Jafridin, 24, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read by the court interpreter in front of judge Nik Habri Muhamad.
According to the charge, Aidie was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at a house in Gunong, Bachok, in Kelantan on March 27.
The accused was charged under Section 376(1) of the Penal Code (Act 574), which carries a maximum penalty of imprisonment up to 20 years and whipping.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Faiz Fitri Mohamad handled the prosecution, while the accused was represented by defence counsel Muhammad Zulfaqar Al-Basysyar Saharrudin.
Earlier, Ahmad Faiz Fitri proposed a higher bail amount of between RM12,000 and RM14,000 for the accused, with the condition that he does not disturb the victim and prosecution witnesses.
However, Zulfaqar requested the court allow his client's bail with an amount of RM10,000, as the accused had to help sell coconut water with his father, who earns a daily income of only RM50.
Zulfaqar said Aidie, who is the second of eight siblings, attended school until only Form Four and had learning difficulties.
The court allowed the accused to be bailed for RM12,000 with one surety, with the condition that he does not disturb the witnesses and reports to the Gunong Police Station once a month.
The court has set May 6 as the next mention date for the case.