A FREELANCE preacher who pleaded not guilty to nine counts of committing rape, sexual assault and unnatural sex on a teenager in the Klang Sessions Court two days ago was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today to face another charge with raping the girl.

Muhammad Fathi Na’im Mazlam, 30, also pleaded not guilty to the charge, allegedly committed at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur between 2am and 10am on December 3, 2021.

The charge was framed under section 376(1) of the penal code, which provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and is liable to whipping, if found guilty.

Judge Tasnim Abu Bakar allowed the accused bail of RM12,000 with one surety and also ordered him to not intimidate witnesses in the case.

Fathi was also ordered to surrender his passport to the court and to report himself at a police station once a month.

The court set January 17 for mention.

Kuala Lumpur prosecution director Kalmizah Salleh prosecuted, while lawyer Muhammad Ashraff Mohd Diah represented the accused. – Bernama, December 1, 2022.