A FOOD delivery rider was again charged at the Ipoh Sessions Court today with raping a schoolgirl two weeks ago.

Afiq Yan Muhammad Farid Yan, 20, was accused of raping the 15-year-old in a room at a house in Jalan Felda Lasah, Kampung Pulau Mentimun, Sungai Siput Utara, between 1am and 2am, on July 17.

The charge, framed under section 376 of the penal code, carries a maximum jail term of 30 years and whipping.

Yesterday, the man claimed trial to committing the same offence against the same girl at a hotel in Ipoh at around midnight on July 16.

Meanwhile, in the same court, two men – Muhammad Azeem Abdul Rahman, 20, Mohamad Ariff Haikal Arapin, 21, and an 18-year-old boy – were charged with gang-raping the same victim at an unnumbered house in Taman Dovenby, Sungai Siput Utara, between 1am and 2am on July 14.

The offence, under section 375B of the penal code, carries a maximum 30 years’ jail.

All four of them claimed trial after the charge against them were read out before judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad.

Deputy public prosecutor Nur Asmaniza Muhamad prosecuted in both cases while the accused were represented by lawyers Navin Punj, Mahajoth Singh and S. Sundarajan.

Ainul allowed Afiq bail of RM8,000 with one surety, while Azeem as well as Ariff were granted bail of RM10,000. The boy was allowed to be released on a bail RM5,000 bail. 

The cases will be mentioned on September 2.

Earlier, a 16-year-old girl who is also a friend of the victim claimed trial at the Kuala Kangsar magistrates’ court to abetting Azeem, Ariff and the boy to rape the girl between 1am and 2am on July 14.

She was charged under section 375B of the penal code, which carries a maximum 30 years’ jail.

The teenage girl was also charged with abetting Afiq in committing the offence on July 17 under section 376 of the penal code, which carries a maximum 30 years’ jail and whipping.

The court allowed the girl bail of RM2,000 for each charge and ordered her not to disturb the victim. She was also ordered to report herself at the nearest police station once a month.

The court set August 5 for mention.

On July 20, police arrested six young men, aged between 16 and 21, on suspicion of raping a schoolgirl after her mother lodged a police report. – Bernama, July 29, 2022.