EIGHT teenage boys were charged in the Bachok magistrates’ court and in the Kota Baru Sessions Court today with raping a Form 2 girl in Tawang in August and September.

Six of them, all aged 15, pleaded guilty when the charge was read out to them before Bachok magistrate Mohd Fauzan Mohd Suhairi.

The boys were charged with two to three counts each of raping the girl, 14, in a room at a restaurant in Jelawat here between 12.30am and 2.30am between August and September.

The charge, framed under section 376(1) of the penal code, carries a maximum 20 years’ jail and also whipping.

They were allowed bail of RM2,000 each on each count. The court set December 13 for mention.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Hakimie Ab Hadi prosecuted, while the six boys were represented by lawyer Norizaidah Abdul Salam from the National Legal Aid Foundation.

As for the other two boys, both aged 18, they claimed trial to the charge before Sessions Court judge Mohd Zul Zakiqudin Zulkifli.

They were charged with raping the same girl, at the same place and date.

Judge Zul allowed one of them bail of RM10,000 with one surety, while the other accused was not allowed bail.

The court set November 23 for mention. – Bernama, October 25, 2022.